India has announced its intention to meet Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical needs over the long term, a move that could help reduce the country’s dependence on medicine imports from Pakistan. The announcement was made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs following the visit of Taliban administration Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali to New Delhi, Afintl.af reports.
In an official statement, the Indian side said it plans to expand cooperation with Afghanistan in the healthcare sector and continue providing humanitarian assistance. It also announced the establishment of a joint working group between the health ministries of the two countries to coordinate cooperation in this area.
During the visit, Jalali held talks with India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. The discussions focused on healthcare projects, the establishment of cancer treatment centers in Afghanistan, the formation of a joint working group, and the possible deployment of Indian doctors to support professional training programs for Afghan medical specialists.
Afghanistan’s health minister was in India from December 16 to 21. During the visit, he toured at least ten hospitals, as well as pharmaceutical, medical, and food production facilities. According to New Delhi, Indian officials offered positive assurances reflecting a desire to deepen engagement with the Afghan side amid strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Jalali’s visit followed a series of contacts between India and representatives of the Taliban administration. Earlier, Afghanistan’s foreign and trade ministers also traveled to New Delhi, indicating a noticeable increase in bilateral contacts over the past two months.
Speaking to journalists in New Delhi, Jalali said that previously 60 to 70 percent of Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical market depended on supplies from Pakistan. He noted that worsening relations between the Taliban and Islamabad had forced Kabul to seek alternative suppliers, adding that India had become one of the main options to address medicine shortages in Afghanistan. He stressed that the Afghan side aims to open a “new chapter” of cooperation with India, particularly in the healthcare sector.
The intensification of India–Afghanistan engagement comes amid rising tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, including repeated border clashes. In this context, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has previously accused certain elements in Kabul of acting as “Indian proxies.” These allegations were made during talks between Taliban and Pakistani delegations in Istanbul on border-related issues.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 25, 2025