Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister has departed for New Delhi on Wednesday as confirmed by his ministry, marking the first visit to India by a Taliban leader since the group took control in 2021. This visit underscores the Taliban’s efforts to broaden engagement with neighboring countries in pursuit of economic partnerships and eventual diplomatic recognition. Russia is currently the sole nation that has formally acknowledged the Taliban administration.
During his visit, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is scheduled to engage in discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other officials covering political, economic, and trade matters, as announced by the Afghan foreign ministry. In the past, India and Afghanistan enjoyed an amicable relationship, but following the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s resurgence, New Delhi closed its embassy in Kabul. A year later, India established a small mission to facilitate trade, medical assistance, and humanitarian aid.
Although India has not officially recognized the Taliban government, it has taken preliminary steps to improve relations through meetings and discussions among high-ranking officials from their respective foreign ministries. Muttaqi’s visit was made feasible after the UN Security Council Committee temporarily lifted the travel restrictions on him to allow for diplomatic engagements overseas, as stated by India’s foreign ministry last week.
The discussions during Muttaqi’s visit will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation, boosting trade interactions, promoting dry fruit exports, enhancing health sector facilities, consular services, and exploring opportunities related to various ports, as detailed by the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry last week. Prior to his trip to India, Muttaqi participated in a regional gathering in Moscow alongside Afghanistan’s neighboring countries such as India, Pakistan, Iran, China, and several Central Asian nations. Together, they issued a joint statement opposing the establishment of foreign military installations in the region, interpreted as a direct response to former US President Donald Trump’s intentions to regain control of the Bagram military base near Kabul.