Taliban Foreign Minister Visits India, Bilateral and Regional Security Discussions Possible

New Delhi(H.S.): Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday night. This is his first visit to India, and the first high-level visit since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. The Taliban Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council granted him temporary travel authorization on September 30.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared information on his arrival in India. He said, "Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is warmly welcomed to New Delhi. We look forward to discussing bilateral relations and regional issues with him."

Muttaqi is in India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and will stay until October 16. During his visit, he will meet with Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss stability, trade, and connectivity projects in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi is also expected to visit Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh and the Taj Mahal in Agra. He will also interact with Indian business groups and members of the Afghan community living in India.

According to analysts, this visit is the highest-level diplomatic initiative between India and the Taliban to date. It signals New Delhi's pragmatic Afghan policy. India has reopened its embassy in Kabul with a technical team. However, the Taliban government has not yet been formally recognized.