India, Afghanistan to form trade panel, upgrade ties
New Delhi/Kabul — India and Afghanistan agreed to establish a joint trade committee and move to upgrade diplomatic ties during a visit to New Delhi by Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to multiple reports published this week.
The Sentinel reported that the two sides agreed to “form [a] trade committee,” citing the visiting foreign minister, while PressTV said New Delhi and Kabul had agreed to “upgrade diplomatic ties” following the talks. Pakistan’s Express Tribune also reported that India has moved to upgrade ties with Afghanistan.
Trade mechanism to revive economic engagement
Announcing the creation of a trade committee, the visiting Afghan delegation and Indian counterparts signaled an intent to revive structured economic engagement that has slowed since 2021. The Sentinel attributed the committee’s formation to remarks by “visiting FM Muttaqi,” indicating that the initiative was discussed during his New Delhi meetings.
While officials did not immediately release a detailed roadmap, the committee is expected to provide a formal channel to address trade facilitation and commercial cooperation, according to the reports. The move aligns with long-standing economic links between the two countries, which have included overland, air-corridor and regional port routes in previous years.
Diplomatic ties set for upgrade
PressTV reported that India and Afghanistan agreed to upgrade diplomatic ties after Muttaqi’s visit to the Indian capital. The Express Tribune similarly reported that India had “upgraded ties with Afghanistan,” underscoring a shift toward more structured engagement after a period of limited contact.
Neither side immediately detailed the contours of the diplomatic upgrade, and there was no official announcement on the status of embassies or consular services. However, the reports suggest that New Delhi and Kabul are seeking practical mechanisms to manage bilateral issues, including trade and humanitarian cooperation, in the absence of formal recognition.
High-level visit to New Delhi
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister in Afghanistan’s current administration, led the delegation to New Delhi for the talks, according to the reports. The visit marks one of the most visible engagements between Indian officials and the Afghan leadership in recent months, pointing to a cautious thaw in ties.
Details of his meetings in New Delhi were not fully disclosed. However, the agreement on a trade committee and the decision to upgrade diplomatic engagement suggest both sides are prioritizing economic stability and day-to-day cooperation, even as broader political questions remain.
Context: relations since 2021
India reduced its diplomatic footprint in Afghanistan in 2021 but has maintained contact through humanitarian assistance and a technical team presence in Kabul since 2022. New Delhi has consistently emphasized that its engagement is aimed at supporting the Afghan people through medical aid, food assistance, and development cooperation where feasible.
Afghanistan, for its part, has sought expanded trade access and connectivity to regional markets. Before 2021, India and Afghanistan operated air freight corridors and leveraged regional port links to boost commerce. The newly announced trade committee appears designed to revive and regularize such exchanges, subject to security and policy considerations.
What’s next
Further details on the composition and mandate of the India–Afghanistan trade committee, as well as timelines for the announced diplomatic upgrade, were not immediately available. Officials in both capitals are expected to clarify implementation steps in the coming weeks.
For now, the announcements signal an incremental but notable turn toward structured engagement. If sustained, the trade mechanism and upgraded diplomatic contacts could help address practical issues ranging from market access and transit to coordination on humanitarian needs. The reports did not indicate any change in India’s formal recognition policy, and both sides have yet to outline specific benchmarks for future steps.
According to The Sentinel, the formation of the trade committee was conveyed by the “visiting FM Muttaqi,” while PressTV and the Express Tribune separately reported the agreement to upgrade ties following the New Delhi visit. Together, the developments point to a measured recalibration of India–Afghanistan relations focused on commerce, connectivity, and day-to-day diplomatic channels.