Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan's Taliban administration, is in New Delhi from October 9 to 16, 2025, marking the first visit by a senior Afghan leader since the fall of Kabul in 2021. This visit is made possible by a travel ban exemption granted by the UN Security Council (UNSC) Committee.
During his stay, Muttaqi is scheduled to hold discussions with India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and other officials. The agenda includes political cooperation, regional issues, trade, and connectivity projects. He is also expected to meet with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has welcomed the visit, emphasizing the importance of dialogue amidst complex regional geopolitics. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed the ministry's anticipation for "engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues".
This visit is a significant diplomatic development, especially since India has not formally recognized the Taliban regime. Despite the lack of formal recognition, India has referred to Muttaqi as the "Afghan Foreign Minister". Muttaqi, who has been under a UN travel ban since 2001, also faces an asset freeze and arms embargo. The UN sanctions committee, currently chaired by Pakistan, approved a temporary waiver for his travel to India.
The MEA confirmed the UNSC's exemption, while declining to share specific details, promising updates to the media. Muttaqi's visit was initially planned for the previous month but was postponed due to the travel ban. According to Hafiz Zia Ahamad, spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions will cover various political, economic, and trade issues, with a focus on strengthening relations between Afghanistan and the region.
This engagement follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's phone conversation with Muttaqi in May, where he thanked him for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. Jaishankar called this a "positive sign" in bilateral contacts.
India has maintained regular contact and provided aid to Afghanistan, re-establishing a "technical mission" in Kabul in June 2022 after pulling out diplomats in August 2021 following the Taliban takeover. From 2001 to 2021, India invested ₹20,000 crore in Afghan projects. These efforts have gradually strengthened ties, potentially making this visit a turning point in India-Taliban relations.
Muttaqi's itinerary may include visits to the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh and the Taj Mahal in Agra. He is also expected to engage with business groups and members of the Afghan community in India.
The visit occurs amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, China's increasing influence in Kabul, and efforts by the U.S. to isolate Iran. It also follows Muttaqi's participation in the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan, which included representatives from Russia, Pakistan, China, Iran, and Central Asian nations. The forum jointly opposed any foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan.
While India's engagement with the Taliban has increased, especially as Afghanistan's relations with Pakistan have deteriorated, experts suggest this does not indicate imminent recognition of the Taliban government. Professor Harsh V. Pant from the Observer Research Foundation noted that engagement is necessary with all of India's neighbors and that the Taliban government has signaled its commitment to protecting Indian interests.
