Muttaqi’s visit, initially delayed by a UN travel ban on Taliban leaders, was allowed after a temporary exemption, providing a rare chance for India to engage directly with the Taliban government

 New Delhi

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, marking the first high-level visit from Kabul since the Taliban took power over four years ago, following the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government. During his six-day visit, Muttaqi is scheduled to hold detailed talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on bilateral relations and regional issues, according to sources familiar with the matter.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed him on social media, saying, “We look forward to engaging discussions on bilateral ties and regional developments.” Apart from official meetings, Muttaqi will visit landmarks like the Taj Mahal and the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary.

The trip was initially planned last month but was delayed due to a UN Security Council (UNSC) travel ban imposed on Taliban leaders. On September 30, the UNSC approved a temporary exemption, allowing Muttaqi to travel to India from October 9 to 16. This visit represents a rare opportunity for direct engagement with the Taliban leadership, as India has not formally recognised their government and continues to advocate for an inclusive administration in Kabul.

India has consistently emphasised that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism against other nations. Earlier, in May, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had a phone conversation with Muttaqi, marking the highest level of contact since the Taliban’s takeover. The visit is expected to further shape India-Taliban relations, building on past interactions where the Taliban acknowledged India as a key regional and economic partner during talks in January with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.