Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday spoke with Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi over the phone, marking his first conversation with a Taliban ministerial-level leader since the group came to power in the South Asian country in 2021.

New Delhi has not officially recognised the Taliban regime of the South Asian country so far.

Jaishankar described the conversation as 'good'.

Pahalgam Attack

The conversation occurred just days after the Taliban government condemned the killing of 26 people, mostly non-Muslim tourists, in a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

"Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening," Jaishankar posted on X after his conversation with the Taliban leader.

"Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack," he said.

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India and Afghanistan countered Pakistan's narrative of linking the Taliban to Pahalgam attack when Jaishankar wrote on X: "Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports."

Jaishankar said during the conversation with the Taliban leader, he underlined the traditional friendship with the Afghan people.

Jaishankar said his government will continue to support Afghanistan's development needs.

"Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward," he said.

Chabahar Port 

Taliban's Director of Communication Hafiz Zia Ahmad said the issues related to  Iran's Chabahar Port  was discussed during the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.

The conversation on Chabahar Port assumes significance since India and Pakistan have completely shut all trade ties and closed the border posts following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Afghanistan, a landlocked nation, depends on Pakistan for trade with India.

Chabahar Port remains the only alternative route to continue India-Afghanistan trade.

Sharing details about the conversation between Jaishankar and Muttaqi, Hafiz Zia Ahmad said: "The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral relations, promoting trade, and upgrading diplomatic engagement support for Afghanistan, highlighting joint efforts in the political and economic spheres. He also pledged to accelerate the resolution of Afghan prisoners’ cases and enhance the visa issuance process."

"To end, both sides underscored the importance of further developing the Chabahar Port," he said.

The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021 after US forces exited.