Indians Meet with Taliban Officials, Provide Technical Assistance
India Must Play the Card They're Dealt
Date: May 4, 2025
Detailed Overview:
Four technical engineers from the Indian Air Force arrived in Kabul in early May 2025. On May 1 and 2, this technical team conducted repairs on two Mi-17 helicopters at Kabul International Airport and activated the biometric system for recording the identities of inbound and outbound passengers.
In addition to this technical delegation, officials from Indian intelligence and security technology specialists also recently traveled to Kabul. During their stay, they held confidential meetings with senior officials from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) of Afghanistan. Individuals involved in these meetings included the heads of Units 091, 376, and 061, the administrative deputy of the GDI, and the head of the border division of Unit 561. These meetings took place in private venues located in the areas of Shahr-e-Naw, Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan, Sherpur, and Karte Char in Kabul.
The primary objective of this delegation’s visit was to implement technical programs aimed at upgrading and restoring civil and military radar systems in Kabul and several key provinces, including Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz, Kandahar, Herat, and Nangarhar. Additionally, the installation of biometric systems at airport terminals in these provinces is also part of the agenda.
India’s National Security Agency has installed and activated advanced reconnaissance and communication equipment at key facilities of the Afghan intelligence agency, including Units 091, 376, 561, 030, and various provincial branches. Furthermore, telecommunication fax systems have been reactivated in several provinces.
Specifically, one fax machine has been installed at the former residence of Mullah Omar in Kandahar, a second at the office of Sheikh Hibatullah, and a third at the office of the Governor of Balkh. Sources indicate that the activities of this Indian technical and intelligence team have been ongoing over the past three months, with a primary focus on restoring technical capabilities and repairing U.S.-origin military and intelligence equipment in Kabul and strategic provinces of Afghanistan
Contact Context: Contact is verified and has a long history of pro-Western sentiment and reliable reporting. Contact received this information from multiple unidentified and unverified sub-contacts.
GCV 6 Note: Probable. India is likely trying to leverage some good will with the Taliban to offset Pakistani influence. In short, this wasn’t their first option, but it’s the game that has to be played since the US retreated.