Taliban Foreign Minister Makes First Official Visit To India
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for his first official visit to India.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for his first official visit to India.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, wrote on X that New Delhi looks forward to “constructive discussions” with Muttaqi on bilateral relations and regional issues.
Anand Prakash, India’s deputy foreign minister for Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan affairs, formally welcomed Muttaqi upon his arrival.
Muttaqi’s trip follows his participation in the Moscow Format meeting in Russia earlier this week before travelling onward to India.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, India has gradually expanded its engagement with the group. The Indian embassy in Kabul remains operational, and senior Indian diplomats have paid several visits to Afghanistan.
New Delhi has also accepted Taliban-appointed diplomats at the Afghan embassy in the capital and at the consulate in Mumbai, signalling a cautious yet pragmatic approach to maintaining diplomatic channels with Kabul under Taliban control.
