By The South Asia Tims

KABUL - Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has appointed its first senior official to India since returning to power in 2021, a move that signals a warming of ties with New Delhi at a time of rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

Noor Ahmad Noor, a foreign ministry official, has assumed charge as chargé d’affaires at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, according to an official statement. Although India has not formally recognised the Taliban government.

The Afghan embassy said Noor has already met Indian officials, including Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) Division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

In a series of posts on X, the embassy said discussions focused on political and economic relations, expanding trade, easing visa processes, and addressing issues faced by Afghan traders, students and nationals in India.

Both sides “emphasized the importance of strengthening Afghanistan–India relations and expanding bilateral cooperation and engagement,” the statement added.

India announced in October that it would upgrade its technical mission in Afghanistan to a full embassy, underscoring a gradual shift toward deeper engagement despite the absence of formal recognition.

The move comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between the Taliban and Pakistan, marked by border tensions and attacks in recent months. Analysts say New Delhi is seeking to capitalize on the growing rift between Kabul and Islamabad to expand its regional influence.

Russia remains the only country to have officially recognised the Taliban government. However, diplomatic activity between Afghanistan and India has steadily increased.

Last October, acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited New Delhi on the same day Taliban fighters clashed with Pakistani forces along the border, a timing that many observers interpreted as a political signal of the Taliban’s outreach toward India amid tensions with Pakistan.

With the appointment of a senior envoy in India, the Taliban appear to be institutionalizing their engagement with New Delhi, a move that could reshape regional alignments as Afghanistan manages its strained relationship with Islamabad.

Pakistan has accused India of supporting terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan and of using Afghan territory, with the backing of the Afghan Taliban, to target Islamabad.