India and the Taliban talked about cricket, aid, and the Chabahar port in order to improve relations.

Additionally, the Taliban minister expressed gratitude to India for its ongoing engagement and support of the Afghan people.

On Wednesday, January 8, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting foreign minister, in Dubai. They talked about cricket collaboration as well as material and humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. Additionally, the Taliban minister expressed gratitude to India for its ongoing engagement and support of the Afghan people.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, in Dubai today. The two parties talked on a range of topics related to regional developments and bilateral relations.

The foreign secretary emphasized India's friendship with Afghanistan and the "strong people to people contacts between the two countries" during the two sides' discussion. He also expressed India's willingness to address the Afghan people's pressing developmental demands.

The two parties assessed the current humanitarian aid initiatives in India. It was resolved that India would think about taking part in development initiatives soon, in addition to the present humanitarian assistance program, given the current need for development activities," the MEA stated.

India had previously responded to the aid by sending "a number of shipments that included 50,000 MTs of wheat, 300 tons of medications, 27 tons of earthquake relief aid, 40,000 liters of pesticides, 100 million polio doses, 1.5 million doses of COVID Vaccine, 11,000 units of hygiene kits for the drug de-addiction program, 500 units of winter clothing, and 1.2 tons of stationery kits, etc."

According to the MEA, India will offer "further material support in the first instance to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees" in an effort to strengthen the two nations' bilateral relations. 

The two parties also talked about enhancing their collaboration in sports, particularly cricket, which is very important to Afghanistan's youth. Additionally, it was decided to encourage the use of Chabahar port to help business and trade, including humanitarian relief for Afghanistan, according to the ministry.