The Taliban will host its first public reception in New Delhi since returning to power in Afghanistan five years ago, signalling a further deepening of engagement between India and the group despite New Delhi’s continued refusal to formally recognise its government.
The reception, scheduled for Aug. 17, will mark what the Taliban calls “Victory Day”, commemorating its return to power after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in August 2021. It will be hosted by Noor Ahmed Noor, the Taliban-appointed chargé d’affaires at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, according to Hindustan Times.
Diplomats, members of the Afghan diaspora, prominent figures and journalists are expected to attend the event. The Indian government is also expected to be represented, although details of its participation have not been made public.
The reception is expected to resemble events previously organised by the Afghan embassy before the Taliban takeover, but will carry added diplomatic significance as the first such public gathering hosted by Taliban representatives in the Indian capital since 2021.
The event could also draw scrutiny over diplomatic symbols on display, including which Afghan flag is used, as India and most other countries have yet to formally recognise the Taliban administration.
Noor, the first Taliban-appointed official to be posted to New Delhi since the group returned to power, arrived in India in January and has since held several meetings with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs.
His growing diplomatic presence reflects a broader expansion in India-Taliban ties. Noor was part of the Taliban delegation accompanying Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to India last October, the first trip by a senior Taliban official to the country.
That visit was followed by India’s decision to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy, with New Delhi saying the move was aimed at strengthening engagement with Afghanistan.
Three other Taliban ministers have visited India in recent months. Industry Minister Nooruddin Azizi travelled to India in November 2025, Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali visited in December, while Agriculture Minister Ataullah Omari travelled to India in July this year.
The Taliban also has officials overseeing Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
India has maintained humanitarian support for Afghanistan and allocated Rs 150 crore ($17.8 million) for the country in its 2026-27 budget. New Delhi has also supported Afghanistan amid its recent tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.
The expanding contacts have allowed India to maintain working ties with the Taliban while stopping short of extending formal diplomatic recognition to its government.
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