[Today’s Prayer] India Strengthens Ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime… Reopens Embassy in Kabul After 4 Years

The Indian government will reopen its embassy in Afghanistan, which had been closed after the Taliban, an Islamic militant organization, regained power—marking the first time in four years.

According to Reuters and other media on the 11th (local time), India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced, after meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi the previous day, that the small liaison office in Kabul would be upgraded and reopened as an embassy.

Minister Jaishankar stated, “We fully support Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence,” emphasizing that “close cooperation between our two nations contributes not only to Afghanistan’s development but also to regional stability.”

Although India has not yet recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, the two countries have traditionally maintained friendly relations.

The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, first came to power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 after the withdrawal of Soviet forces.

However, when the United States identified Al-Qaeda as responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it invaded Afghanistan on the grounds that the Taliban was harboring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and subsequently ousted the Taliban regime.

The Taliban regained power in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. forces, but the international community has not recognized the group as Afghanistan’s legitimate government due to its status as an armed organization.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities, made a public spectacle of them, and triumphed over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:14–15)

God, we hear the news that the Indian government is establishing an embassy in Afghanistan, where the Taliban currently hold power. Though the Taliban regime is not recognized as a government by the international community, we see that more and more nations are beginning to engage with the Taliban, following India’s example.

The exchange between these two nations is driven by practical interests, yet it also strengthens the Taliban’s foothold. As the Taliban’s power grows, the persecution against women and the church in Afghanistan will intensify.

Lord, we declare in the name of Jesus that every persecution carried out under the name of false religion will be broken. May the power of Satan binding Afghanistan lose its strength. Perform a miraculous work so that the freedom to believe in Jesus will be granted in this land.

We praise You, Lord, who works all things together for good. May the friendly exchange between India and Afghanistan also become an exchange between the churches of both nations. As the Indian church prays fervently for the church in Afghanistan, we believe that new revival and restoration will come to that land.

Even if persecution comes now, we pray that the church in Afghanistan will hold fast to the hope of heaven and overcome victoriously. May the global church unite in prayer and spiritual warfare so that freedom will come to this land.

Lord, connect India and Afghanistan through the gospel. May the church in Afghanistan rise up through the power of the gospel! Raise up churches not only within Afghanistan but also among the surrounding peoples, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!