India-Taliban ties: Muttaqi’s visit highlights growing closeness

THE upcoming visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India underlines the importance given by the Taliban regime to a key regional partner. He will be the first top-level visitor from Kabul after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in 2021. It’s a small victory for the Taliban that the UN Security Council has exempted Muttaqi from a travel ban. His role in the strengthening of bilateral ties has been significant; he met Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Dubai in January and had a phone conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in May. Soon after the chat, Jaishankar had lauded Muttaqi’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and “his firm rejection of attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan”. This was a reference to false reports circulated by Pakistan about Indian “missile attacks” on Afghan territory.

Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have nosedived in recent months, primarily due to a surge in terror attacks in its border regions. Islamabad has warned that it would respond with force if the Taliban fail to stop cross-border terrorism. The mass deportation of Afghans from Pakistan has aggravated the situation, even as China’s efforts to reduce Af-Pak tensions have not borne fruit. Hence, it is not surprising that the Taliban have come closer to India, which has been a victim of Pak-sponsored terrorism for decades. Moreover, India has always been quick to respond to any calamity in Afghanistan; a case in point is the humanitarian aid sent there in the wake of the recent earthquake. The resumption of visa services for Afghan nationals was another good move by India earlier this year.

Amid geopolitical flux in the neighbourhood, India is counting on the Taliban’s support. However, Delhi needs to be wary of the regime’s atrocious human rights record. The Taliban have not exactly covered themselves in glory with their ban on women’s education and stifling curbs on female aid workers. India can’t afford to give the impression that it is averse to the restoration of democracy in Afghanistan.