The foreign minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, departed for New Delhi on Wednesday, marking the first visit to India by a Taliban official since the group’s takeover in 2021, according to the Afghan foreign ministry.
This visit underscores the Taliban’s efforts to strengthen ties with regional powers in hopes of securing economic relations and eventual diplomatic recognition. So far, Russia remains the only nation to officially recognise the Taliban regime, reports Reuters.
During his trip, Muttaqi is expected to engage in discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other key officials, focusing on political, economic, and trade matters, the Afghan ministry stated.
India and Afghanistan have traditionally maintained friendly relations. However, following the Taliban’s return to power and the US withdrawal in 2021, India shut down its embassy in Kabul. A year later, India reopened a small mission aimed at supporting trade, medical assistance, and humanitarian efforts.
Although New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban government, it has taken tentative steps to rebuild relations, with meetings and dialogues between senior officials from both sides.
Muttaqi’s visit was made possible after the UN Security Council Committee temporarily lifted a travel ban on him to facilitate diplomatic engagements, India’s foreign ministry reported last week.
Key topics during Muttaqi’s visit are expected to include bilateral cooperation, trade exchanges, the export of dry fruits, healthcare services, consular matters, and port facilities, according to Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign ministry.
Earlier this week, Muttaqi participated in a regional conference in Moscow, where Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran, China, and several Central Asian nations, issued a joint statement opposing the establishment of foreign military infrastructure in the region. This was seen as a statement against US plans, particularly the intention to regain control of the Bagram military base near Kabul.
