Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on Thursday, August 21, to discuss bilateral cooperation and align their positions on the situation in Afghanistan.
According to a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides emphasized the need for coordinated engagement on Afghan affairs and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral ties—particularly through the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS, and the G20.
The meeting comes at a time when relations between New Delhi and Washington have strained, largely due to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Indian media reports noted that just a week earlier, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with senior Russian officials in Moscow, during which Afghanistan was also on the agenda.
Russia has formally recognized the Taliban as the governing authority in Afghanistan, while India—mindful of its complex relationship with Pakistan—has so far adopted a more cautious stance toward the group.
In June 2022, India reopened its embassy in Kabul by deploying a team of “technical experts,” and in November 2024, the Taliban appointed a diplomat to Mumbai, further indicating the slow normalization of diplomatic ties.
