India, Oct. 21 -- India on Tuesday announced the upgrading of its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan from the status of a technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy as part of its engagement with the Taliban while stopping short of a formal recognition of the regime that came to power in August 2021.

The formal announcement from the external affairs ministry came less than a week after Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi concluded his visit to India, the first by a senior member of the group. Following talks with Muttaqi on October 10, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had said India would upgrade its diplomatic role in Kabul.

India withdrew its officials from and shuttered all its missions in Afghanistan after the...