Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi arrives in Delhi, to meet EAM, NSA

Afghanistan’s Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in India today on an eight-day visit, during which he is scheduled to hold separate talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.

The Afghan minister may also ‘call on’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though this is not yet confirmed, sources said. Muttaqi is expected to remain in India until October 16. His visit follows a waiver on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travel ban, which India had requested.

After his official engagements in New Delhi, Muttaqi is likely to travel to Agra over the weekend to visit the Taj Mahal and, separately, the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom at Deoband, Uttar Pradesh.

The Taliban leader’s meeting with Jaishankar is expected to focus on counter-terrorism, trade relations, including US-imposed sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar port, and New Delhi’s humanitarian and developmental assistance to Afghanistan.

Last month, the US withdrew exemptions given to India for operations through the port, which had a direct road link with Afghanistan.

At the airport today, Muttaqi was received by M Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in line with the protocol accorded to a visiting foreign minister.

“Warm welcome to Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi on his arrival in New Delhi. We look forward to engaging in discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues,” said Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson, in a statement.

India does not recognise the Taliban regime. However, it has made diplomatic overtures in the past year. Jaishankar held his first direct conversation with Muttaqi in a phone call in May. Earlier, in February, a high-level Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Muttaqi in Dubai. Last year, an Indian delegation visited Afghanistan for high-level meetings with Afghan officials.

For New Delhi, this reflects a shift in stance towards the Taliban government without extending formal recognition. India had closed its embassy in Kabul immediately after the Taliban regained power in 2021. Embassy operations resumed with a “technical team” stationed there in 2022. In April this year, a new visa module was introduced for Afghan nationals, allowing them to apply under six categories. Prior to the Taliban’s return, India had invested nearly $3 billion in projects across Afghanistan.

Muttaqi is accompanied by a five-member delegation, including Acting Deputy Industry and Commerce Minister Ahmadullah Zaid, Director General of the First Political Division in the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs Noor Ahmad Noor and Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zia Ahmad Takal.