New DELHI: Afghanistan’s Taliban government has appointed its first senior official in India since the group returned to power in 2021, assigning him to lead its embassy in Delhi.
Noor Ahmad Noor, a Taliban foreign ministry official, has assumed responsibility as charge d’affaires and has already met with Indian officials, the Afghan embassy said in a statement.
“Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening Afghanistan–India relations,” the embassy said in a post on X late Monday.
India has not officially recognised the Taliban government and has not commented on the appointment. The Afghan embassy, however, shared a photograph of Noor with senior Indian foreign ministry official Anand Prakash, according to AFP.
Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law might seem an unlikely match for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, though the appointment carries significance for the Taliban, which has been striving to reclaim control over Afghanistan’s overseas diplomatic missions as part of a broader push for international legitimacy.
In October 2025, India announced plans to upgrade its technical mission in Afghanistan to a full embassy.
Currently, Russia remains the only country to officially recognise the Afghan Taliban government, highlighting the limited international recognition the group has received since its return to power.
