![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/assests\/2025\/11\/03.jpg\")
Islamabad: Experts on Afghan affairs have revealed that the Afghan Taliban, once fiercely anti-India and vocally critical of the \u201cidol-worshipping\u201d state, are now actively seeking New Delhi\u2019s trade, investment, and reconstruction support, highlighting a striking shift from ideological posturing to transactional diplomacy.<\/p>\n
According to Kashmir Media Service, for over two decades, the experts added, Taliban depicted India as a Hindu \u201ckafir\u201d state supporting \u201canti-Islam\u201d forces in Kabul. Indian consulates were branded as RAW terror hubs, and Indian influence in Afghanistan was equated with subversion. Yet, the same Emirate now sends its foreign minister and commerce minister to India, seeking wheat, access to ports, reconstruction funding, and trade corridors.<\/p>\n
The Taliban\u2019s embrace of India starkly contrasts with their historic attacks on the Bamiyan Buddhas, which they destroyed as \u201cun-Islamic idols\u201d representing Buddhist-Hindu civilization\u2014heritage India now positions itself to protect and promote.<\/p>\n
Analysts note that the Emirate\u2019s pragmatism extends to sidelining their Muslim neighbor Pakistan. Despite rhetoric emphasizing Islamic solidarity and shared history, Taliban officials have prioritized Delhi over Islamabad, bypassing Pakistan on trade and recognition issues while remaining silent on India\u2019s oppression of Kashmir and other Muslim concerns during official visits.<\/p>\n
On domestic policy, the Taliban continue to enforce strict measures in the name of Shariah, curbing girls\u2019 education, women\u2019s work, and media freedoms. Yet in foreign affairs, they display remarkable flexibility, shedding anti-West and anti-India slogans in favor of securing economic support and diplomatic legitimacy. Even India\u2019s border concerns are met with accommodation, while the Durand Line issue with Pakistan is unduly raised.<\/p>\n
Observers highlight that repeated ministerial trips to New Delhi, photo-ops, and appeals for Indian support signal a clear scramble for de-facto recognition, despite the Emirate\u2019s public claims of not \u201cbegging for legitimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taliban have long wielded faith and jihadist rhetoric against Pakistan and the West. But in dealings with India, they quietly park ideology, treating the state like any other fragile regime\u2014willing to overlook past \u201cenemies of Islam\u201d in exchange for wheat, trade routes, and a seat at the diplomatic table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad: Experts on Afghan affairs have revealed that the Afghan Taliban, once fiercely anti-India and vocally critical of the \u201cidol-worshipping\u201d state, are now actively seeking New Delhi\u2019s trade, investment, and reconstruction support, highlighting a striking shift from ideological posturing to transactional diplomacy. According to Kashmir Media Service, for over two decades, the experts added, Taliban …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":188329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-188328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t