NEW DELHI: Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in India on Thursday for a six-day visit aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and fostering closer engagement between Kabul and New Delhi. The visit marks the first official trip by a senior Taliban leader to India since the group regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Muttaqi’s visit underscores the Taliban’s growing push to engage with regional powers and seek greater diplomatic recognition. During his stay, he is expected to hold talks with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and other senior officials to discuss a wide range of political, trade, and economic issues.
“We look forward to constructive discussions on bilateral relations and regional developments,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X, welcoming the visiting minister.
According to Indian media, Muttaqi will also meet with business leaders to explore investment opportunities and visit notable landmarks, including the Taj Mahal and a historic Islamic seminary. His trip to India follows recent discussions in Moscow with diplomats from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, who collectively opposed U.S. efforts to regain control of the Bagram Airbase near Kabul.
Although Russia remains the only nation to formally recognize the Taliban administration, the group continues to face U.N. sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes. Muttaqi received a temporary exemption to travel to India for this visit.
India, which shared long-standing friendly ties with Afghanistan before 2021, has yet to recognize the Taliban government. New Delhi had closed its embassy in Kabul following the U.S. withdrawal but reopened a limited diplomatic mission the following year to facilitate humanitarian aid, trade, and medical assistance.
This latest engagement signals a cautious yet pragmatic approach by India to maintain communication and stability in the region while balancing its diplomatic stance toward the Taliban regime.
