Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 11: India has called for a pragmatic and constructive engagement with the Taliban, cautioning that an overemphasis on punitive measures will only perpetuate the current “business as usual” situation in Afghanistan. The appeal was made during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on Wednesday, where New Delhi also voiced strong concern over Pakistan’s recent airstrikes that claimed the lives of innocent Afghan civilians, including women, children and cricketers.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, stressed that the international community needs a calibrated, incentive-based approach while dealing with the Taliban.

“India calls for a pragmatic engagement with the Taliban. A coherent policy of engagement should incentivise positive actions. A focus on only punitive measures will only ensure that a ‘business as usual’ approach continues, as we have been seeing for the last four and a half years,” Harish told the council.

Harish noted that India’s decision to restore its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy reflects New Delhi’s unbroken commitment to the development needs of the Afghan people.

“We will continue our engagements with all stakeholders to augment our contribution to Afghanistan’s comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, in keeping with the priorities and aspirations of Afghan society,” he said.

Expressing solidarity with UNAMA’s assessment, India condemned the recent Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan that led to the deaths of civilians.

“India echoes UNAMA’s concern over airstrikes and condemns the killing of innocent women, children and cricketers in Afghanistan,” Harish said.

He further criticised what he called “trade and transit terrorism”, referring to Pakistan’s closure of access routes for the land-locked nation, stating it violates WTO norms and international law.

“These acts are a blatant violation of the UN Charter. We strongly support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan,” he added.

The remarks come amid renewed clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistan, barely two months after both sides agreed to a ceasefire. The fragile border situation has contributed to growing instability in the region.

India’s stance at the UNSC also comes weeks after Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to New Delhi in October — the first such high-level visit by a Taliban leader since 2021.

During the visit, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar held extensive talks and announced the upgrading of India’s mission in Kabul from a technical office to a full embassy, reaffirming India’s intention to resume developmental partnerships in Afghanistan.

India had withdrawn its embassy staff in August 2021 following the Taliban’s return to power, later sending a technical team in June 2022 as part of its gradual re-engagement.

With New Delhi reiterating both its humanitarian commitment and its concerns over regional hostilities, India’s message at the UNSC reflected a careful balancing act—supporting Afghanistan’s sovereignty while advocating measured engagement with the Taliban and urging accountability for actions that threaten civilian lives.