SRINAGAR: India has formally restored its diplomatic presence in Kabul by upgrading its Technical Mission to the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with effect from October 21, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs has informed the Lok Sabha. This marks the first full diplomatic return to Kabul in four years, signalling a calibrated shift in India’s Afghanistan policy.
In its written response to Parliament, the government said India’s approach is guided by its “long-standing friendship and special relationship with the Afghan people”. The decision to elevate the mission’s status, the ministry said, is part of India’s pragmatic engagement with Afghan authorities aimed at safeguarding national interests, ensuring humanitarian support and continuing development cooperation.
The government explained that this engagement is rooted in three core objectives: sustaining people-centric development partnerships, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and preventing Afghan territory from being used by non-State actors against India. The ministry said the upgraded diplomatic presence is intended to strengthen oversight of these priorities.
India currently has more than 500 development projects in Afghanistan spanning power, water supply, connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture and capacity building. These projects are spread across multiple provinces and involve various Indian ministries and agencies depending on the sector. The Embassy in Kabul, now functioning at full diplomatic status, continues to monitor the implementation and progress of these initiatives.
On the question of measuring outcomes of India’s engagement, the government said the Embassy will play a central role in tracking project performance and humanitarian delivery. The reply did not indicate whether a public dashboard with state-wise or region-wise project data will be created but emphasised that monitoring mechanisms remain in place within the mission’s operational framework.
The Ministry of External Affairs did not specify a timeline for achieving a complete diplomatic, consular and project-implementation presence or for publishing a first review report. However, it said the current upgrade reflects a continuity of India’s long-standing commitment to the Afghan people, supported by sustained development and humanitarian cooperation.
