India's Dilemma with the Taliban
India's decision to strengthen ties with Afghanistan and host the Taliban's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, can be seen as a strategic move.
Delhi aims to secure a seat at Kabul's geopolitical table to counter Pakistan's influence and protect regional interests.
After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, India's long-standing investment and humanitarian efforts in Kabul were compromised, allowing Pakistan and China to gain ground.
India ceded strategic space to Pakistan, which has long strived to exercise control over Afghanistan, and to China, which is cementing its presence through the Belt and Road Initiative and mineral investments.
Author's summary: India hosts Taliban for strategic interests.