Just a day after the joint statement issued to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan has expressed strong objection. Pakistan not only expressed displeasure over some parts of the joint statement, but also reacted sharply to the statements made by Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki during his visit to India.

Pakistan expressed objection on the mention of Kashmir

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that describing Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India in the joint statement is a clear violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Pakistan has formally expressed its serious objections to both India and Afghanistan on this. Pakistan has also given this objection to the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia and Afghanistan).

In an India-Afghanistan joint statement issued on October 10, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had thanked Afghanistan for strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Both countries condemned all forms of terrorism and stressed the need to enhance peace, stability and mutual trust in the region.

Pakistan enraged by Muttaki’s statements

Apart from the joint statement, Pakistan also objected to the statement of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in which he had said that terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that it had already informed Afghanistan that many terrorist organizations were attacking Pakistan from Afghan soil. The ministry said that the Afghan interim government cannot escape its responsibility by putting the responsibility on Pakistan. It is the responsibility of Afghanistan to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Muttaki held Pakistan responsible

It is noteworthy that just before his visit to India, Muttaki had held Pakistan responsible for the blasts in Afghanistan. He had said, “We consider this action of Pakistan wrong. Problems are not solved like this. We have kept the door of dialogue open. Peace and development have returned to Afghanistan after 40 years.”

Pakistan’s statement on illegal Afghan citizens

Amidst this controversy, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also said that illegal Afghan citizens cannot be allowed to live in the country. The ministry clarified that it is Pakistan’s right to control the presence of foreign nationals.

This was the first time that the Afghan Foreign Minister visited India after the Taliban came to power in 2021. In New Delhi on Friday, he met Foreign Minister S. Met Jaishankar. During the meeting, Muttaki assured that Afghanistan will not allow its land to be used against any country.

Muttaki said, “I am happy to come to Delhi. This visit will increase understanding and cooperation between India and Afghanistan. Both the countries should further strengthen their relations and dialogue. We will not allow any group to misuse our soil.”

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Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki reached Delhi on Thursday (9 October 2025) on a week-long visit. He was warmly welcomed in India. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that we are eager to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues with him.

Amir Khan Muttaki may meet India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. This visit is considered very important from the point of view of regional diplomacy. Pakistan had tried hard in the United Nations to prevent Muttaki from visiting India.

Trouble arose over Taliban flag

While preparations are going on in the Ministry of External Affairs for bilateral meetings between the two countries, there is a dilemma in front of the officials regarding the flag. As per diplomatic protocol, the Indian flag should be placed side by side with the flag of the visiting leader’s country for photographs to be taken. Since India does not recognize Taliban rule in Afghanistan, it cannot give official status to the Taliban flag.

The old flag of Afghanistan is being hoisted in the embassy

India has not yet given permission to hoist the Taliban flag over the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. The embassy still flies the old flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which was now the official flag under former President Ashraf Ghani. During the last meeting between Indian officials and Muttaki, Afghanistan had used the Taliban flag in the background.

Earlier this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a meeting with Muttaki in Dubai. During this time the authorities had solved the problem by not placing any flag at the back. During this period, neither the tricolor nor the Taliban flag was hoisted, but this time the meeting is being held in Delhi and this issue has become a diplomatic challenge for the authorities.

India-Afghanistan relations back on track

There have been friendly relations between India and Afghanistan. After the withdrawal of America from here in the year 2021 and the return of Taliban to power, India closed its embassy in Kabul. About a year later, India launched a small mission to facilitate trade, medical aid and humanitarian assistance.

India has not officially recognized the Taliban government, but has taken tentative steps to improve relations through meetings and talks between senior officials of the foreign ministries of the two countries. Muttaki’s visit to India is expected to add a new dimension to India’s relations with the Taliban based in Kabul.