The External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday there had been no change in India’s position on not recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; the remarks came amid the reports of an Afghan policy body asking officials to attend an online program under the ITEC initiative.

At a media briefing, the spokesperson also said that the Indian side does not issue any note verbal to any entities that New Delhi does not recognize.

The comments came after the beginning of a four-day online course for Afghan diplomats, including IEA officials.

The online course was conducted by the E-ITEC from March 14 and will continue till 17 of this month with 18 Afghan participants. This was the first initiative since the IEA’s takeover in August 2021.

However, the MEA spokesperson said there had been no change in India’s position on the IEA regime.

“These courses are also open to nationals of various countries, including Afghanistan. Several Afghan nationals, based in India and Afghanistan, have been participating in these ITEC courses,” Arindam Bagchi said.

“Of course, the online courses do not involve travel to India,” he said.

The MEA spokeswoman stated that India’s stance on the IEA regime has not changed.

“Our position on how we see developments in Afghanistan has not changed. I do not think anything should be read into ITEC courses vis-a-vis that. We certainly would not be issuing verbal notes, which are inter-governmental notes, to entities that are not recognized,” he said.

India has not yet recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It has been pitching for an inclusive and representative government while insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorist activities against other countries.

India meanwhile has extended its humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan to address the current humanitarian crisis in the country.