India engages diplomatically with Taliban to boost trade and regional ties

India has recently engaged diplomatically with the Taliban, marking a significant change in its approach since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. India's top diplomat met with the Taliban's foreign minister, focusing on trade and regional cooperation. This outreach comes after years of India losing influence in Afghanistan, with concerns over security and regional rivalries, particularly with Pakistan and China. India aims to strengthen ties to enhance connectivity to Central Asia through Iran's Chabahar port. While India seeks to maintain goodwill and counter terrorism, experts caution about the risks of engaging with the Taliban, a group with a history of violence and ties to extremist organizations.