Diplomatic gears are turning in New Delhi with the arrival of Taliban heavyweight Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, tasked with leading the Afghan Embassy as CDA. This step highlights pragmatic strides in India-Afghanistan interactions despite longstanding caveats.
Noor’s credentials shine from his stint as DG of Afghanistan’s First Political Department. Backdrop to his posting: a surge in ties post-Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi’s seven-day India sojourn in October 2025. Their meeting with Jaishankar sealed nods for Taliban diplomats.
Noor joined that high-profile team, witnessing firsthand the thaw. Muttaqi’s candid remark on the embassy’s ownership resonated widely. Coming almost five years after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, it marks a milestone.
India persists with vital assistance—humanitarian and medical—sans formal endorsement of the regime. Parallel shifts at Mumbai and Hyderabad consulates see Taliban picks in charge, sidelining prior Ghani loyalists like ex-CDA Khil.
Multiple Afghan delegations have since engaged India on commerce, power sector growth, and Chabahar Port optimization. This Iranian hub, India’s brainchild, eyes amplified throughput for cargo and investments, fostering economic bridges.
Fresh off a December 2025 Bangladesh trip, Noor’s Delhi role amplifies Taliban outreach. Analysts see it as India’s calculated outreach, prioritizing stability, counter-terrorism, and regional trade over ideological hurdles. The path forward promises layered engagements.