Nearly five years after the Taliban took control of Kabul, the first Taliban-appointed diplomat has reached India. Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior official from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Delhi to take charge of the Afghanistan Embassy. Officials confirmed that he will become the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy. This move came after an agreement between India and the Taliban regime during Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi's visit to Delhi in October 2025. During that visit, Mr. Mottaqi was hosted by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Mr. Noor accompanied Mr. Mottaqi on his official visit and even visited the Darul Uloom madrassa in Deoband with him. In December 2025, Mr. Noor also traveled to Dhaka, meeting Islamist leaders shortly before Bangladesh’s elections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul has not yet formally announced Mr. Noor's appointment or received his letters of appointment. Earlier, in April 2023, the Taliban’s attempt to appoint another diplomat to Delhi failed as the nominee was rejected by embassy staff and denied entry. The Taliban did succeed in appointing Ikramuddin Kamil as Consul in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Mohammad Ebrahimkhil, originally sent by the previous Afghan government, continued as Charge d’Affaires in Delhi. It is unclear if he will return to Hyderabad, where another Taliban appointee, Habibur Rahman Aftab, now leads the Consulate. Officials in Hyderabad have not been informed about any staff changes. Both the Mumbai and Hyderabad Consuls were in Delhi to welcome Mr. Noor. India does not officially recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government since they ousted the elected administration in 2021. However, India restored a technical mission in Kabul in 2022 and in October 2025, upgraded it to full Embassy status. This made India one of the few countries allowing Taliban diplomats. The move raised concerns about embassy staff from the previous regime and the future of Afghanistan’s flag at the Delhi Embassy. For now, the previous flag and staff remain. Mr. Noor is expected to take full control of the Embassy soon. The Ministry of External Affairs said the upgrade shows India’s intent to deepen ties with Afghanistan in all areas of mutual interest. Mr. Mottaqi confirmed that the Taliban will appoint diplomats in Delhi as well, signaling a new chapter in India-Afghan diplomacy.