Taliban FM begins first visit by senior Afghan leader to India since 2021

Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in India, marking the first high-level visit by a senior Afghan leader since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.

Muttaqi’s visit was made possible after the United Nations Security Council granted him a travel waiver. His arrival in New Delhi comes amid the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to gain regional legitimacy and build economic ties, despite lacking formal international recognition.

The Afghan foreign minister is expected to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Although neither side has publicly detailed the agenda, key discussions are anticipated to focus on trade, regional security, and humanitarian cooperation.

“We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues,” said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who welcomed Muttaqi’s visit as an opportunity for dialogue.

India has maintained a cautious but consistent engagement with the Taliban regime, focusing largely on humanitarian support. While it has not formally recognized the Taliban government, India reopened a limited diplomatic presence in Kabul in 2022 to coordinate aid.

Muttaqi’s trip follows his recent meetings in Russia, which earlier this year became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban administration. His stop in India is widely seen as part of a broader diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening Afghanistan’s regional ties and seeking eventual recognition from key players in South Asia.

The visit also comes amid strained regional dynamics, with India and Pakistan closely monitoring each other’s engagement with the Taliban government. Observers note that India’s willingness to host Muttaqi signals a strategic interest in shaping outcomes in Afghanistan and counterbalancing Pakistani influence.

India has historically hosted a large Afghan diaspora, many of whom fled following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government in 2021. While Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi closed in 2023, consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad continue to provide limited services.

As Muttaqi’s visit unfolds, regional and international observers are watching closely for signs of a shift in India’s policy toward Afghanistan’s de facto rulers — and whether it may eventually pave the way for broader diplomatic engagement.