Taliban Foreign Minister to Visit India in Landmark Diplomatic Move

In a landmark development that could reshape regional geopolitics, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Taliban government is set to visit India on October 9. This will be the first high-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, marking a significant new chapter in India–Taliban engagement.The United Nations Security Council has confirmed that Muttaqi has been granted a temporary exemption from international travel restrictions, allowing him to visit New Delhi between October 9 and 16. The exemption underscores the strategic importance of the visit, both for the Taliban administration and for regional powers recalibrating their diplomatic approaches to Afghanistan.Indian diplomatic circles have been preparing for this moment for months. Since January, Indian officials—including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior diplomat J.P. Singh—have held multiple rounds of dialogue with Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders, often in neutral venues such as Dubai. In one such meeting, Misri discussed New Delhi’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, focusing on health sector support and refugee rehabilitation.A key turning point came on May 15, immediately after India’s successful Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Muttaqi—the first ministerial-level contact since 2021. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the Taliban’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed India’s “traditional friendship with the Afghan people.”Earlier in April, during a high-level meeting in Kabul, Taliban officials had condemned the Pahalgam attack, aligning with India’s position on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region. This statement marked a notable shift in regional dynamics and signalled emerging convergence on security concerns.India has since expanded its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, providing food grains, medical supplies, and development aid. Following the devastating earthquake in September, India was among the first responders, swiftly dispatching 1,000 family tents and 15 tonnes of food supplies to affected provinces. This was followed by an additional 21 tonnes of relief materials, including medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, and generators, reaffirming India’s commitment to the Afghan people.Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, India has supplied Afghanistan with nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat, over 330 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, 40,000 litres of pesticides, and other essential materials—support that has proved critical for millions of Afghans facing food insecurity, health challenges, and humanitarian crises.