Taliban FM begins first visit by senior Afghan leader to India since 2021 | News

Amir Khan Muttaqi’s journey made potential after a UN committee briefly lifted a journey ban on him to permit diplomatic engagements overseas.

Afghanistan’s United Nations-sanctioned international minister has arrived in India, the primary go to by a high Taliban chief since they returned to energy in 2021, following the withdrawal of United States-led forces and the autumn of Kabul.

Amir Khan Muttaqi’s journey on Thursday was made potential after the UN Safety Council granted him a journey waiver and is anticipated to be carefully watched by India’s regional foe Pakistan, as New Delhi deepens its engagement with the Taliban authorities.

“We stay up for participating discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional points,” Indian International Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in an announcement, providing Muttaqi a “heat welcome”.

Muttaqi, who met with India’s international secretary Vikram Misri in January in Dubai, is about to carry talks with its exterior affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Neither aspect has disclosed the agenda, however commerce and safety are prone to be on the forefront, though India has not prolonged its formal recognition to the Taliban authorities but.

Moscow’s recognition

The journey highlights Taliban efforts to broaden engagement with regional powers in a quest for financial ties and eventual diplomatic recognition.

Muttaqi’s go to follows conferences in Russia – the one nation up to now to have formally recognised the Taliban administration.

India has lengthy hosted tens of 1000’s of Afghans, many who fled the nation after the Taliban returned to energy.

Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi shut in 2023, though consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad nonetheless function restricted companies.

India says its mission in Kabul is restricted to coordinating humanitarian support.

On Tuesday, Muttaqi attended a regional assembly in Moscow the place Afghanistan’s neighbours, together with India, Pakistan, Iran, China and several other Central Asian international locations, issued a joint assertion opposing the deployment of international navy infrastructure within the area.

The assertion, a uncommon displaying of a unified entrance, was considered a sign of opposition to US President Donald Trump’s acknowledged objective to retake management of the Bagram navy base close to Kabul.