About:

• The announcement came even as European Union (EU) special envoy on Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson was in Delhi, where he met officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the National Security Adviser’s office.
  
  
• The EU planned to reopen a “minimal presence” in Afghanistan, sending a small number of EU international officials and security personnel in addition to the humanitarian staff present in Kabul.
  
  
• Niklasson emphasised that reopening the mission in Afghanistan would in no way imply “recognition” to the “de facto regime” of the Taliban.
  
  
• With Saudi Arabia sending back a team of 14 consular officials to Kabul this week, 10 countries are operating their embassies in Afghanistan, including Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, KSA, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, although no country has recognised the Taliban regime.
  
  
• The EU plan marks the first “western” entity to reopen its mission premises in Kabul, given that the U.S. has deputed the Qatari embassy there to manage its interests.
  
  
• India has not yet decided on when and whether to staff its embassy that was closed on August 18, although discussions have been held over options at the NSCS (National Security Council Secretariat) and the MEA.