October 3rd 2025.
Next week, the foreign minister of the Afghan Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, will be making a highly anticipated visit to India. This will be the first visit to New Delhi by a senior Taliban leader since their takeover of Kabul in August of last year. The United Nations Security Council has granted Muttaqi a waiver from international travel restrictions, allowing him to travel to India between October 9th and 16th. He is scheduled to meet with India's external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, on October 10th. This visit comes after the UNSC's 1988 sanctions committee approved an exemption on September 30th. It is worth noting that this waiver was previously blocked in September due to objections from the US and Pakistan.
According to officials, this visit is significant as it marks a careful recalibration by India in its relations with the Taliban. While not formally recognizing their regime, India has re-established a diplomatic presence in Kabul in order to protect regional interests and counter China's growing influence. The visit is also seen as an opportunity for the Taliban to seek legitimacy and for India to secure commitments on counter-terrorism, especially in light of the Taliban's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which was carried out by Pakistan-based proxies.
During the visit, the Taliban officials are expected to push for expanding their diplomatic representation in India, including at the Afghan embassy in Delhi and consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad. This comes at a time when their relations with Pakistan have been strained and following a nationwide communications blackout in Afghanistan that drew criticism. For India, this visit offers a channel to secure commitments from the Taliban, while also allowing them to establish a working relationship without formally recognizing their regime. Muttaqi's visit to Delhi will also follow a stopover in Russia on October 6th.
In conclusion, the upcoming visit of Afghan Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India is an important step in the evolving dynamics between the two countries. It will be interesting to see the outcomes of this visit and how it will shape the future relationship between India and the Taliban.
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