Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Visits India in Landmark Diplomatic Outreach
Muttaqi's visit signals first high-level Taliban engagement with India since 2021, as UN grants special travel exemption
In a significant diplomatic development, Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a week-long visit, marking the first high-level visit from the Taliban-led government to India since the group took over Kabul in August 2021.
The visit was made possible after the United Nations Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee granted a special exemption on September 30, temporarily lifting Muttaqi’s travel ban. The ban, originally imposed in 2001 under UN sanctions, includes restrictions such as an asset freeze and arms embargo, along with the travel restriction. The exemption allows Muttaqi to engage in official diplomatic meetings and outreach during his six-day stay in India, which lasts until October 16.
Upon arrival, Muttaqi was received by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues,” Jaiswal posted on X.
Muttaqi is in India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with whom he will hold extensive talks. He is also scheduled to meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. While there is no confirmation of a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian officials have accorded Muttaqi full diplomatic protocol.
This visit reflects a cautious but notable shift in India’s approach towards the Taliban regime. Although New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban government, the high-level interaction signals a pragmatic recalibration of its Afghanistan policy, focusing on regional stability and strategic engagement.
This is not Muttaqi’s first interaction with Indian officials. In May, Jaishankar revealed that the two had a “good conversation,” during which he appreciated Muttaqi’s condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
During his stay, Muttaqi will also visit the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary and the Taj Mahal. He is expected to interact with Indian business leaders and members of the Afghan diaspora, further broadening the scope of his engagements.
Coinciding with the arrival of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai for trade talks, Muttaqi’s visit underscores India’s growing role as a key player in regional diplomacy, even amid complex geopolitical challenges.