NEW DELHI – In a significant and carefully calibrated diplomatic development, India is preparing to host the Afghan Taliban's acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, for a landmark visit from October 9 to October 16. The visit was made possible after a United Nations Security Council committee granted a temporary exemption from a long-standing travel ban, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday.
| Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi speaks during a news conference in Kabul Afghanistan September 14, 2021. Picture taken September 14, 2021.REUTERS/Stringer |
The visit, if it proceeds as planned, will mark the first official trip to India by a senior leader of the Taliban-led administration since it seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces. The engagement signals a potential recalibration of relations for New Delhi, which had enjoyed a close partnership with the previous U.S.-backed government in Kabul.
Amir Khan Muttaqi is one of several high-ranking Taliban members subject to UN sanctions, which include international travel bans and asset freezes. However, the sanctions regime allows for temporary waivers to be granted for diplomatic purposes, such as peace and security-related discussions.
While an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson did not explicitly confirm the visit, he acknowledged that New Delhi has maintained communication with the Afghan administration, noting the humanitarian assistance India provided following the earthquake on August 31.
Agenda Focused on Trade and Aid
According to Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the Taliban's foreign ministry, the discussions in New Delhi are expected to focus on practical and pressing issues. The agenda will reportedly cover bilateral cooperation, trade exchange, the export of Afghan dry fruits, access to medical facilities in India, and consular services. Takal did not, however, confirm the specific dates of the visit.
This focus on economic and humanitarian issues suggests a mutual desire to establish a working relationship, even in the absence of formal diplomatic recognition.
A Calculated Step in a Broader Diplomatic Tour
The visit to India appears to be part of a broader diplomatic push by the Taliban to engage with regional powers. According to media reports from both India and Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Muttaqi is expected to travel to Moscow before his arrival in New Delhi.
In Russia, he is slated to participate in multilateral discussions on the situation in Afghanistan with representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India, and various Central Asian nations. This positions the India trip as a crucial bilateral follow-up to wider regional consultations.
The Quest for Legitimacy
For the Taliban, this visit is a critical step in its ongoing campaign for international legitimacy. To date, only Russia has formally recognized the Taliban government.
"Afghanistan is in desperate need of establishing relations with the countries of the region, especially its neighbors," said Hekmatullah Hekmat, an Afghan political analyst. "Afghanistan needs to build political, economic, and trade relations in order to gain recognition."
India, like the vast majority of the international community, does not officially recognize the Taliban administration. New Delhi evacuated its embassy in Kabul in 2021 after the Taliban's takeover but reopened a "technical mission" a year later to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid. This upcoming visit represents the most significant public engagement between the two sides to date and will be closely watched by regional and global powers.
