Taliban Values India Is An Economic Regional Partner After Meeting Each Other In Dubai

Illustration of Taliban militants. (PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons-Voice of America News)

JAKARTA - The Taliban-controlled Afghan Foreign Ministry views India as a "regional and economic partner" after foreign ministry leaders of the two sides met.

The meeting between Indian Foreign Minister (Menlu) Juli Misri and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi took place in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, January 8.

"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economic-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," read a statement from the Afghan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening, quoted by AFP.

Afghanistan's foreign ministry said it had discussed expanding relations and increasing trade with India.

The trade is through the Port of Chabahar in Iran, which India has developed to distribute goods so as not to cross the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said, after the meeting, India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and wanting to improve trade relations.

Although there are no other state governments, including India, officially recognize the Taliban government.

However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid, and medical support, and has delivered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under Taliban control.

On the one hand, other regional players including China and Russia have signaled that they are willing to increase trade and investment in Afghanistan.

The Taliban-India meeting is said to be "increasing" Pakistan, a country bordering both sides.

Pakistan is known to have fought three fights against India in the past.

Pakistan and Afghanistan relations are also not disbursed because they often argue. Pakistan often accuses of militant attacks that have occurred in its country being controlled from Afghanistan which has later been denied.