India has formally reopened its embassy in Kabul, upgrading its limited Technical Mission to a full-fledged diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) announced the move on Tuesday, describing it as a step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding India’s developmental and humanitarian footprint in the war-torn country.

In an official statement titled, the MEA said, “In keeping with the decision announced during the recent visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister to India, the Government is restoring the status of the Technical Mission of India in Kabul to that of Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect.”

“This decision underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in all spheres of mutual interest,” the statement added, noting that the embassy would “further augment India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.”

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that “the transition from this technical mission to the embassy will happen in the next few days.”

The development follows external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s announcement last week after meeting Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who was on a six-day visit to India. “India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan.

To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India,” Jaishankar had said in New Delhi.

Muttaqi welcomed the decision and confirmed Kabul would soon send its diplomats to India as part of “step-by-step” efforts to improve relations. “The foreign minister said you can send diplomats to New Delhi now. When we go back, we will select people and send them,” he told reporters.

India’s embassy in Kabul had been closed in August 2021 after the Taliban seized power following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces. Since June 2022, India has operated a limited Technical Mission focused on humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and education projects.