Taliban foreign minister makes landmark trip to India

Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in India, marking the first visit by a senior Taliban official since the group retook power in 2021. The trip was enabled by a UN Security Council waiver that allows sanctioned officials to travel for diplomacy and will be closely watched by Pakistan as New Delhi expands engagement with Kabul.

India’s foreign ministry welcomed the delegation and said talks would cover bilateral relations and regional issues. Meetings are expected with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, following earlier contacts in Dubai between Indian officials and the Taliban government.

Analysts said the agenda would likely focus on trade facilitation, security and humanitarian cooperation rather than formal recognition, which New Delhi is not expected to grant soon. International Crisis Group analyst Praveen Donthi said India aims to build influence in Kabul without ceding ground to China and Pakistan.

The visit follows consultations in Moscow, the only capital to have officially recognised the Taliban administration to date. India maintains limited consular services in Mumbai and Hyderabad after the Afghan embassy in New Delhi closed in 2023 and says its Kabul mission is focused on coordinating aid.

Experts noted that regional dynamics remain tense. Islamabad accuses authorities in Afghanistan of allowing militants to stage attacks in Pakistan, a claim Kabul denies. Commentator Wahed Faqiri called the trip a notable shift that could strengthen India’s hand while complicating Pakistan’s calculus.

Diplomats will judge outcomes by practical steps on connectivity, commerce and counter-terrorism. Even absent recognition, both sides are exploring ways to stabilize ties and manage shared concerns along a volatile regional arc.