An Indian delegation led by J P Singh, the Joint Secretary of the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in the External Affairs Ministry, recently met Taliban's Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob and offered the use of Chabahar Port in Iran to businesses in his country.

This was the first diplomatic meeting between the Taliban Defence Minister and an Indian official.

Singh also suggested extending humanitarian assistance to the country that has been ruled by the Taliban since 2021.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing: "J P Singh, who is a Joint Secretary in charge of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran in the Ministry of External Affairs. He visited Kabul on 4th and 5th of November. During the visit, he had several meetings with the Afghan Minister, including with the acting Defense Minister."

Singh also met former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai during his visit to Afghanistan.

"He also called on former President Hamid Karzai. He also met the head of UN agencies there and several other senior Ministers," Jaiswal said.

"They had discussions on India's humanitarian assistance that we are providing to people in Afghanistan, as also how the Chabahar port can be utilized by the business community in Afghanistan for transactions and for export and import and any other thing that they would like to do for," he said.

Jaiswal said providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan is an important part of our assistance program.

India does not recognise the Taliban regime in the country.

In a significant move earlier this year, India and Iran inked a landmark 10-year pact, inclusive of a renewable clause, for the continued development of the Chabahar Port.