Indian envoy to Iran meets Afghan counterpart in Tehran to boost ties

NEW DELHI: Indian ambassador to Iran Gaurav Shresth met his Afghanistan counterpart Fazl Haqqani in Tehran, in the latest engagement between India and the Taliban to carry forward bilateral cooperation. While India hasn't formally recognised the government in Kabul, it has been working to step up its engagement with the Taliban, as evident from the recent meeting that foreign secretary Vikram Misri had with acting Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The Afghan media reported Tuesday that in the meeting in Tehran, officials focused on expanding cooperation in areas of exports and imports through the Chabahar port in Iran, which has continued to facilitate trade and commerce between India and Afghanistan.
India's development partnership with Afghanistan includes more than 500 projects spread across each of the 34 provinces of the country in critical areas of power, water supply, road connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture and capacity building. India's approach to Afghanistan continues to be guided by its historical relations and friendship with its people, according to the government.