According to the Pakistani analyst, India’s “courting of the Taliban regime appears to be working.” He pointed to a statement issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hours after the Dubai meeting, which spoke of Muttaqi’s “desire of strengthening political & economic relations with India as a key regional and economic player.”

India pledges development projects in Afghanistan, which has endured years of devastating war and natural disasters.

The Taliban's foreign office said they saw India as a "significant regional and economic partner" after meeting with its most senior foreign ministry official, the highest level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.