Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Wednesday, 8 July met Afghanistan's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, in New Delhi, with discussions centred on India-Afghanistan bilateral relations and ongoing cooperation for the welfare and development of the Afghan people. The meeting comes at a diplomatically significant moment, weeks after deadly Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory drew sharp condemnation from New Delhi.

What Was Discussed

Omari arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. He held discussions with key Indian officials on matters of shared interest between the two countries.

Margherita confirmed the meeting in a post on X, writing: 'Good to meet H.E. Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan, in New Delhi today. The discussions focused on India-Afghanistan bilateral relations, including ongoing cooperation for the welfare and development of the Afghan people.'

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier welcomed Omari's arrival, with its spokesperson noting on X that the visit was aimed at 'engaging discussions on issues of mutual interest.'

India's Condemnation of Pakistani Airstrikes

The diplomatic engagement follows India's strong public stance on the recent Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory, which resulted in civilian casualties including women and children. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said India had 'strongly condemned' the strikes and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

'We had also at the same time reiterated our strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan,' Jaiswal said. The statement underscored India's consistent position of backing Kabul against external aggression, even as New Delhi navigates its complex ties with both Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration.

India's Ongoing Humanitarian Support to Afghanistan

India has maintained an active humanitarian assistance programme for Afghanistan. On 17 June, India delivered five tonnes of essential medicines to Kabul, continuing a pattern of regular aid shipments. Earlier, on 22 May, India had sent 20 tonnes of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) vaccines to Kabul to support immunisation efforts among Afghan children.

Jaiswal noted that India's support extends beyond medicines to include 'development projects which can bring benefit to the lives of people there,' describing the cooperation as ongoing and sustained.

Strategic Context

India's engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban-led government has been carefully calibrated — prioritising people-to-people welfare and development while stopping short of formal diplomatic recognition. The visit by Omari, an agriculture minister, signals a pragmatic focus on food security and rural development cooperation, areas where India has historical expertise and existing bilateral frameworks. This is the latest in a series of high-level contacts between New Delhi and Kabul since India reopened its embassy in Afghanistan in 2022.

With Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions running high following the airstrikes, India's positioning as a supportive neighbour — through both diplomatic statements and material aid — carries considerable strategic weight in the region.