Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior official within the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has arrived in New Delhi to assume the role of Chargé d'Affaires at the Afghanistan Embassy. This marks a notable shift in the diplomatic engagement between India and the Taliban administration, nearly five years after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul. The appointment follows a decision by India in October 2025 to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status, aligning with steps taken by several other nations, including China, Russia, and Pakistan, to allow the Taliban to post diplomats. Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor's arrival comes after an understanding reportedly reached during the visit of Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi to Delhi in October 2025, where he met with India's External Affairs Minister. While India has not formally recognized the Taliban government, this development underscores its pragmatic approach to engaging with the regime, driven by concerns over regional stability and counter-terrorism. This isn't the first attempt by the Taliban to appoint an envoy in New Delhi; a previous effort in April 2023 was reportedly thwarted after rejection by embassy staff. However, the Taliban successfully appointed a nominee to its consulate in Mumbai. Noor is expected to formally take control of the embassy soon, though officials note that the previous regime's flag and employees are expected to remain for the time being. This appointment represents a significant step in formalizing direct diplomatic channels between India and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan.