Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on October 10th, 2025, during which Muttaqi invited Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in Afghanistan. Jaishankar "deeply appreciated" the invitation and stated it could be discussed further. This meeting occurred amidst reports of an explosion in Kabul the previous night and an earlier airstrike in Paktika province. Minister Muttaqi, speaking at the bilateral meeting held at Hyderabad House, stated that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used against others, emphasizing a challenge for the region. He also recalled that during the American occupation, Afghanistan never issued statements against India and always valued good relations. Meanwhile, a high-ranking Taliban official denied any blast in Kabul last night, referring to it as "just an aircraft sound bearers," despite indications that the Taliban wants the issue forgotten quickly. During the discussions, Minister Muttaqi extended a formal invitation to Indian companies to explore Afghanistan's mining sector. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed "deep appreciation" for this invitation and indicated that the matter would be subject to further discussion. The meeting's opening remarks were broadcast live, with EAM Jaishankar sharing a link to the broadcast. These diplomatic engagements follow a period of regional security concerns. Earlier on October 10th, 2025, eight shops were destroyed in Magha Bazar, Bermal, Paktika, between 1:05 AM and 4:05 AM UTC, following an airstrike attributed to the Pakistan Air Force targeting a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) position. One shop was directly hit, and the fire spread to seven adjacent businesses, according to a report from Himat75 on X.com. Additionally, an explosion in Kabul narrowly missed a high-value target earlier on October 10th, 2025. Taliban officials are reportedly divided on how to respond to this incident, with some advocating for a strong stance against perceived external interference and others preferring to label it as a "single security incident."
