By Imran Khurshid, PhD
Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded in fresh clashes on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Afghan officials told AFP on Wednesday.
Clashes broke out overnight in the southern Afghan district of Spin Boldak, according to Ali Mohammad Haqmal, spokesman for the local Information Department, who said 15 civilians had been killed.
This toll was confirmed to AFP by Abdul Jan Barak, an official at the Spin Boldak district hospital, who said more than 80 women and children had been wounded.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Visits India Amid Regional Shifts
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India underscores the strategic depth of New Delhi-Kabul ties amid shifting regional dynamics. It reflects India’s pragmatic diplomacy, people-centric engagement, and Afghanistan’s pursuit of independent agency.
The recent visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, to India from October 9 to 16, 2025, after attending the Moscow Format meeting in Kazan, Russia, marks a significant and timely development in South Asian geopolitics. His extended stay in New Delhi highlights the priority India places on engaging with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
The warm reception accorded to Muttaqi, including official ceremonies and high-level engagements with Indian officials, reflected India’s commitment to a pragmatic, people-centric, and stable engagement with Afghanistan.
This visit was made possible after India successfully secured an exemption from the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee to facilitate Muttaqi’s travel—a move that had faced previous procedural delays when Pakistan chaired the committee.
The approval demonstrates India’s diplomatic capacity and its ability to navigate multilateral platforms, reaffirming its intent to maintain an active and stabilizing role in Afghan affairs.
Pakistan’s Frustration & Airstrikes
Muttaqi’s visit coincided with an alarming development — Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory, a blatant violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The strikes occurred while the Afghan foreign minister was in New Delhi, appearing as a calculated move by Islamabad to signal that deepening ties with India would not be tolerated.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, used strong language against Afghanistan, stating “Enough is enough,” reflecting Islamabad’s long-standing opposition to closer India–Afghanistan engagement.
In retaliation, Afghan forces launched strikes on several Pakistani border posts along the Durand Line on October 11–12, 2025, escalating tensions and triggering intense exchanges of fire. The Taliban claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured 25 posts, while Pakistan reported 23 soldiers killed and the loss of 19 posts.
Pakistan also closed major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, disrupting trade and movement. Speaking from New Delhi, Muttaqi delivered a strong warning to Islamabad, urging Pakistan to “learn lessons from the Soviet Union, the United States, and NATO forces” about the consequences of underestimating Afghanistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty.
Pakistan’s anger was further amplified by the joint statement issued during Muttaqi’s visit, in which Afghanistan strongly condemned the Phalgham terror attack and reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, while India reiterated its respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Islamabad not only protested against this at the Afghan Embassy but also used psychological pressure by threatening to expel more Afghan refugees—once again weaponizing humanitarian issues for political ends.
Pakistan’s frustration is palpable. The growing warmth between New Delhi and Kabul strikes at the heart of Pakistan’s long-held strategic doctrine that views Afghanistan as a “strategic depth” rather than a sovereign neighbour.
For decades, Islamabad has interfered in Afghan affairs, supported factions to keep the country divided, and manipulated instability to prevent any unified Afghan front that could challenge the Durand Line or its dominance.
In contrast, India’s approach has always centered on human development and capacity building—roads, schools, dams, hospitals, and training programs that have earned deep respect among Afghans. This people-centric engagement, not political manipulation, defines India’s legacy in Afghanistan. No wonder India’s growing involvement evokes admiration, love, and respect in Kabul and anxiety in Islamabad.
Shifting Geopolitics & Strategic Balancing
Muttaqi’s visit comes at a time of major geopolitical realignments—the United States’ renewed interest in regaining access to the Bagram airbase, Pakistan’s growing proximity to Washington, and Islamabad’s reported offer of Pasni Port for U.S. operations.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s transactional approach, China’s expanding footprint, and Pakistan’s attempt to position itself as a bridge between Beijing and Kabul have created a fluid regional landscape.
In this context, Kabul sees engagement with New Delhi as a strategic necessity. The Taliban seeks to diversify its diplomatic options, reduce dependence on Pakistan, and avoid falling entirely under the China-Pakistan axis. India, being a major regional power with a positive development track record in Afghanistan, provides both legitimacy and leverage for the Taliban government.
A Message Beyond Diplomacy
Muttaqi’s visit to Darul Uloom Deoband carried significant symbolic depth. He was warmly received by the seminary’s leadership, including Maulana Arshad Madani and Abul Qasim Nomani, amid floral tributes and visible joy. “I am thankful for such a grand welcome and the affection shown by the people here. I hope that India-Afghanistan ties advance further,” Muttaqi said.
This moment was not merely religious symbolism—it was also a subtle form of diplomatic messaging. It countered Pakistan’s self-proclaimed monopoly as the guardian of Islam and showcased India’s religious diversity and inclusivity, with historical roots underscoring this legacy.
It further dismantled narratives propagated internationally that portray India as intolerant. By welcoming the Afghan minister to a historic Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi signalled to the Muslim world that its engagement with Islamic traditions is rooted in respect, dialogue, and genuine cultural understanding, rather than political maneuvering.
New Delhi’s Pragmatic Approach
India’s approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflects realpolitik—engaging with whoever governs Afghanistan to secure its long-term interests, without focusing on their ideology.
Despite suspending developmental operations after the Taliban takeover in 2021, India maintained humanitarian aid and continued people-centric initiatives, including food, medicine, and earthquake relief. This consistent outreach built the foundation for renewed diplomatic contact, including the deployment of a technical mission in Kabul, and now this landmark ministerial visit.
For India, Afghanistan’s stability has direct implications for its security and regional connectivity objectives. Any instability in Kabul risks strengthening extremist networks and bolstering the China-Pakistan nexus, which would undermine India’s strategic interests.
To safeguard its position, India should deepen engagement with Afghanistan through sustained development projects, trade initiatives, and cultural diplomacy, ensuring that bilateral ties remain strong and mutually beneficial.
At the same time, New Delhi should collaborate closely with Iran, Russia, and the Central Asian republics to prevent Afghanistan from becoming dominated by the China-Pakistan axis. Reviving platforms such as the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, which India hosted in 2021 and 2022, would allow India to remain central to regional decision-making and strengthen its diplomatic leverage.
Simultaneously, maintaining robust intelligence-level contacts is essential to safeguard Indian missions and assets, while monitoring terrorist threats that could emanate from Afghan territory.
If India were to distance itself from Afghanistan, other powers—particularly China and Pakistan—would likely fill the vacuum, sidelining New Delhi’s Chabahar port and broader Central Asia connectivity initiatives.
Moreover, the potential extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan could consolidate a Beijing-Islamabad-Kabul axis, further diminishing India’s influence in a strategically vital region.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister’s visit to India is not just a diplomatic event—it is a geostrategic statement. It highlights Kabul’s desire for independent agency, India’s pragmatic diplomacy, and Pakistan’s growing isolation in regional politics. The visit cements India’s role as a constructive, people-oriented partner in Afghanistan’s journey toward stability and sovereignty.
- Dr. Imran Khurshid is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi. He specializes in India-US relations, Indo-Pacific studies, and South Asian security issues.
- VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR. THIS IS AN OPINION ARTICLE
