New Delhi: India welcomed Kabul’s firm rejection of attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan during a phone conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

In the first publicly acknowledged phone conversation, Jaishankar also ‘deeply’ appreciated Muttaqi’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack.

‘Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports,’ Jaishankar said, in an apparent reference to a report in a section of the Pakistani media that claimed India had ‘hired’ the Taliban to carry out a ‘false flag’ operation at Pahalgam.

‘Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,’ he added.

The External Affairs Minister described the conversation as ‘good’.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban set-up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul.

New Delhi has also been insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

The phone conversation between the two foreign ministers came over four months after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Muttaqi in Dubai.

An Afghan readout of Jaishankar-Muttaqi talks said both sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations, promoting trade, and advancing diplomatic engagement.

‘Foreign Minister Muttaqi referred to India as a key regional country and highlighted the historic nature of Afghanistan-India relations, expressing optimism that these ties will grow stronger,’ it said.