UN Sanctioned Taliban Diplomat Arrives in New Delhi for Landmark Visit

Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, landed in New Delhi on Thursday for a six day visit, marking the first high-level delegation from the Taliban administration to India since the group seized power in Kabul in August 2021. The visit comes only after the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee granted a temporary exemption from the international travel ban imposed on Muttaqi, a senior UN sanctioned Taliban leader.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, extended a "warm welcome" to the Afghan diplomat and stated that India "look[s] forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues." The schedule for the week long trip, which continues until October 16, includes planned discussions with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Muttaqi is also expected to engage with Indian business leaders to explore trade and investment opportunities and may visit cultural sites such as the Taj Mahal and a historic Islamic seminary.

While India has yet to formally recognise the Taliban regime, this visit signals a new, cautious phase of pragmatic engagement focused on security and economic interests. Discussions are anticipated to cover issues such as trade facilitation, humanitarian assistance, connectivity projects, including the Chabahar port and counter-terrorism cooperation. India has maintained a consistent policy of continuing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and has previously engaged with Muttaqi in less formal settings, including a telephonic conversation between Jaishankar and Muttaqi in May, and a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Afghan Minister in Dubai earlier this year.

The trip follows Muttaqi’s attendance at the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, and analysts view it as an effort by the Taliban to break diplomatic isolation and diversify its foreign partnerships. For New Delhi, the visit is a strategic move to safeguard its interests in Afghanistan, which include stability, security, and long-standing investments in development projects. A diplomatic challenge during the visit has been the issue of the Afghan flag, as New Delhi does not recognise the new flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, leading to a protocol dilemma over its display. The outcome of the high-level talks is expected to set the groundwork for future functional engagement between the two sides as India balances its non-recognition stance with regional realpolitik.

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