India upgraded its Kabul mission to full embassy status and let the Taliban assign diplomats to their Delhi posts after Afghanistan's acting foreign minister visited. Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi showed up to discuss humanitarian projects like maternity centers and cancer treatment facilities, and both sides agreed to restart air cargo flights for trade. Around 21,000 Afghan refugees are scattered across Delhi neighborhoods, with most landing in spots like Lajpat Nagar and Bhogal.
The refugee community is split on whether closer diplomatic ties will actually help them since they're stuck living on temporary visas without access to government services or property ownership. Women who fled the education ban remain skeptical about trusting Taliban representatives getting red-carpet treatment. Analysts think India is playing pragmatic geopolitics to counter Pakistani and Chinese influence in the region, while the Taliban tries to reduce its dependence on Pakistan.
The refugee community is split on whether closer diplomatic ties will actually help them since they're stuck living on temporary visas without access to government services or property ownership. Women who fled the education ban remain skeptical about trusting Taliban representatives getting red-carpet treatment. Analysts think India is playing pragmatic geopolitics to counter Pakistani and Chinese influence in the region, while the Taliban tries to reduce its dependence on Pakistan.
