Afghan Foreign Minister Arrives in India for Week-Long Visit: Is India Moving Toward Recognising the Taliban? Previous Visit Cancelled Over Pakistan Issue

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed him on X (formerly Twitter), posting:

“A warm welcome to Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on his arrival in New Delhi. We look forward to discussions on bilateral relations and regional issues.”

Muttaqi’s visit was initially planned for last month but was postponed due to a UN Security Council (UNSC) travel ban. The UNSC committee later granted him a temporary exemption on September 30, permitting travel to India from October 9 to 16.

His visit comes at a delicate time for regional diplomacy, as Afghanistan’s neighbours — including India, Pakistan, China, and Russia — continue to assess the evolving security situation and broader geopolitical implications following the US withdrawal from the Bagram Air Base.

Talks Likely on Taliban Recognition and Regional Cooperation

India closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and has since maintained limited diplomatic engagement. Although New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban regime, informal and backchannel communications have persisted.

According to MEA sources, Muttaqi is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the visit. The discussions will likely focus on humanitarian aid, visa and trade facilitation, and concerns related to Afghan nationals living in India.

Other agenda items are expected to include Afghan dry fruit exports, the Chabahar trade route, regional connectivity through Indian ports, and counterterrorism cooperation, particularly concerning the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The question of international recognition of the Taliban government is also anticipated to be a key topic during the talks.