Follow-Up
After less than four years of worldwide ostracism of the Afghan Taliban movement, three major Asian nuclear powers are fiercely competing to win its favor and strengthen diplomatic ties with it, despite the fact that no international government has officially recognized it as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, China, India, and the United Arab Emirates have officially accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, and the Taliban claims to operate 39 Afghan embassies and consulates worldwide.
A report by the British newspaper The Independent highlights fierce competition between India, Pakistan, and China to enhance their diplomatic relationships with those once considered "Islamist extremists."
The newspaper’s correspondent in Asia, Arban Rai, notes that China is playing a leading role in easing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, arising from issues related to terrorism and the deportation of refugees.
In this context, it is mentioned that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, announcing that the two countries "aim to strengthen their diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors as soon as possible." He added that "China welcomes this and is ready to continue providing assistance to improve Afghan-Pakistani relations."
This development follows Pakistan’s expulsion of more than 8,000 Afghan nationals last April as part of its "plan to repatriate illegal foreigners" to their home countries.
Meanwhile, India conducted direct political communications with the Taliban following an attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Muttaqi’s condemnation of the terrorist attack that occurred in Pahalgam on April 22, signaling a significant shift in India’s stance, according to the correspondent.
In January, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Vikram Misri met with Muttaqi to discuss expanding bilateral relations, focusing on Indian security concerns, enhancing trade through the Chabahar port, and Indian investments in Afghan development projects.
Experts indicate that this unexpected embrace of the Taliban by Asian powers, which none envisioned up until last year, is driven by strategic self-interests, including regional competition over minerals and efforts to combat terrorist groups.
Fried Mamundzay, Afghanistan’s ambassador to New Delhi until 2023, points out that competition for Afghanistan "has become more overt and evident, and is increasingly followed at high diplomatic levels."
He clarifies that "Pakistan still considers Afghanistan central to its concept of strategic depth," while "China views Afghanistan as vital to securing Xinjiang, expanding the Belt and Road Initiative… and accessing its untapped mineral wealth."
As for India, it sees continued engagement as essential to counterbalance Chinese and Pakistani influence and to maintain strategic access to continental Asia.
Despite the stringent restrictions the Taliban imposes on girls’ and women’s rights, which have led to its international isolation, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanay stated to The Independent, "There is no doubt that the Islamic Emirate has strengthened its comprehensive relations with major countries like China, Russia, Iran, and even India, in line with its interests."
He added that Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Foreign Minister Muttaqi have made renewed efforts to repair relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. When asked if this marks a new chapter in the Taliban’s history, Qanay replied: "Yes, that is absolutely correct."
The Taliban believes that this increasing interest from regional powers enhances its international standing, political influence, and economic gains; however, former Deputy Foreign Minister Nasir Ahmad Andisha warns that this is "doomed to failure" in the long run.
