Indian officials hold 1st talks with Taliban in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian officials have held talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan for the first time since the group took control of the country last year to discuss the distribution of humanitarian assistance. India has no formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban government, but its envoys have met previously with Taliban representatives in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where they have an office. An Indian External Affairs Ministry official says the visit to Afghanistan’s capital on Thursday was mainly to oversee the delivery of aid. Before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, India provided security forces with training and military equipment but had no troops on the ground. It was also the region’s largest provider of development aid to Afghanistan.