Modi Calls Trump as Delhi Hosts Taliban, Pakistan Talks Escalate, and Gaza Diplomacy Intensifies

The conversation began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating Donald Trump for the success of his Gaza peace plan — even as Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned of a “real possibility of war” with India. Amid this rhetoric, Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made a landmark 8-day visit to India, marking a cautious but significant thaw in ties between New Delhi and Kabul.

Ambassador Katju dismissed Asif’s threats as “irrelevant,” pointing instead to Pakistan’s internal instability. He emphasized that India’s engagement with the Taliban was timely and should remain pragmatic, avoiding premature diplomatic recognition but deepening humanitarian and development ties. General Hasnain agreed, noting that the Taliban’s interests are increasingly aligned with India’s regional stability goals, while also cautioning against American re-entry into the region through bases like Bagram.

Both experts discussed the implications of Trump’s growing confidence following his Middle East initiative. While Katju viewed Trump’s success as a temporary boost, Hasnain warned that his unpredictability could spill over into South Asian geopolitics.

Barkha Dutt concluded that the world’s power chessboard is shifting — and India’s challenge lies in navigating these moving alliances with strategic restraint and clarity.