Taliban plans ‘Victory Day’ reception at Afghan embassy in Delhi

A Taliban-hosted reception is planned at the Afghan embassy in Delhi on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of its takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021.

The invitation was issued in the name of Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires in Delhi, and carries the seal of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed whether Indian officials will attend.

At a Friday briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed to a series of engagements between India and Afghanistan over the past year, including ministerial visits from Kabul. He said the countries had advanced cooperation on trade, connectivity and development, while India sought to build on its longstanding relationship with the Afghan people.

India has not formally recognised the Taliban government, though Taliban-appointed diplomats have been allowed to operate from the Afghan mission in Delhi. India also reopened a technical mission in Kabul last year. Monday’s reception will offer the clearest immediate indication of how publicly New Delhi wishes to signal its engagement with the Taliban-run administration.