News Brief
Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi Set To Visit India In Landmark Diplomatic Shift: Report
Indian diplomat responsible for managing relations with Afghanistan met the Taliban's interim foreign minister in Kabul
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is likely to visit India on 9 October, in what marks the first high-level delegation from the Taliban government since August 2021, NDTV reported.
The visit signals a potential reset in India’s engagement with Kabul, carrying implications for regional geopolitics.
The UN Security Council has granted Muttaqi a special exemption from travel restrictions, valid between 9 and 16 October.
This waiver reflects the importance of his visit, with regional powers watching closely as ties undergo recalibration.
India has been laying diplomatic groundwork for months.
Since January, senior officials such as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and IFS officer J P Singh have engaged in multiple rounds of talks with Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders, mostly in Dubai.
Key discussions focused on India’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, particularly in healthcare and refugee rehabilitation support.
A breakthrough occurred on 15 May, shortly after India’s Operation Sindoor, when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with Muttaqi — the first ministerial-level contact since 2021.
Jaishankar welcomed the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and reiterated India’s "traditional friendship with the Afghan people".
In April, during talks with Indian officials in Kabul, the Taliban denounced the Pahalgam terror attack after India presented specific details.
The move underscored alignment between New Delhi and Kabul against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region.
Taliban officials have also shared requests with India for energy aid and infrastructure partnerships.
When a severe earthquake struck Afghanistan in September, India was among the first responders, sending 1,000 tents and 15 tonnes of food.
An additional 21 tonnes of relief materials, including essential medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, and generators, soon followed, highlighting New Delhi’s commitment to Afghan humanitarian needs.
Since the Taliban's Afghanistan takeover in August 2021, India has delivered nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat, over 330 tonnes of medical supplies, and 40,000 litres of pesticides, and other items to Afghanistan.
These sustained shipments have been vital in easing food insecurity and health crises for millions.
Observers see the visit as a diplomatic setback for Pakistan, which has historically sought sway over Kabul.
Islamabad’s repatriation of 80,000 Afghan refugees earlier this year strained relations, creating room for India.
Muttaqi’s trip signals Kabul’s effort to broaden ties and reduce reliance on Pakistan.
For New Delhi, direct engagement with the Taliban is a calculated but necessary step. It provides India an opportunity to protect long-term interests, prevent regional terror threats, and balance Pakistan and China’s influence in Afghanistan.
