Afghanistan's Taliban foreign minister visits India to build closer ties
Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a six-day visit aimed at strengthening political and economic relations with India. marking the first official trip by a Taliban leader since the group regained power in August 2021.
The visit underscores the Taliban’s growing diplomatic outreach in the region as it seeks international legitimacy and economic partnerships amid an ongoing financial crisis and political isolation. India, which has historically been one of Afghanistan’s key development partners, remains cautious but open to engagement, particularly on trade, connectivity, and humanitarian cooperation.
During his visit, Muttaqi is expected to meet Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other senior officials to discuss bilateral ties, regional stability, and potential cooperation in areas such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. “We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, confirming the visit.
Indian media reported that Muttaqi will also meet representatives of Indian business groups interested in Afghanistan’s mining, construction, and transit sectors. His itinerary includes cultural and symbolic stops, such as visits to the Taj Mahal in Agra and a historic Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh, reflecting a soft-diplomacy approach by the Taliban to improve its image in India.
The Afghan minister arrived in India after holding talks in Moscow with regional envoys from Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states. Those discussions reportedly centered on resisting US attempts to regain control of the former Bagram Air Base near Kabul and on ensuring regional security cooperation.
Russia remains the only major country to have formally recognized the Taliban government. Most others, including India, have refrained from extending diplomatic recognition due to concerns over human rights, particularly women’s rights, and the Taliban’s failure to form an inclusive government. Muttaqi, who is under UN travel and asset restrictions, received a temporary exemption to make this trip.
India had closed its embassy in Kabul following the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021 and the Taliban’s swift takeover. However, it reopened a limited diplomatic mission in mid-2022 to facilitate humanitarian assistance, oversee development projects, and maintain contact with Afghan authorities.
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