India officially upgraded its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan on Tuesday, restoring full embassy operations in Kabul as relations between the two countries show signs of improvement.

The Indian embassy had shuttered its doors when the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, following the departure of U.S.-led NATO forces. A year later, India reopened a limited technical mission to oversee trade relations, provide medical assistance, and coordinate humanitarian relief efforts.

Currently, approximately twelve nations maintain embassies in Kabul, including China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. However, Russia stands alone in having officially recognized the Taliban government.

“Following the announcement made during the recent visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister to India, the government is elevating our technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status, effective immediately,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated in today’s press release.

The ministry emphasized that this decision reflects India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan across all areas of shared interest.

According to the MEA, the restored embassy will “enhance India’s support for Afghanistan’s holistic development, humanitarian relief, and capacity-building programs, aligned with the needs and hopes of the Afghan people.”

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar first revealed plans to reopen the embassy earlier this month during historic talks with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi—marking the first visit to India by a Taliban official since 2021.

While New Delhi has not formally recognized the Taliban administration, it has gradually pursued warmer relations through high-level diplomatic exchanges between foreign ministry officials.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.