Taliban's Foreign Minister to Make First High-Level Visit to India
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, is scheduled to visit India next week, marking the first high-level trip from Kabul since the group seized power in 2021. The visit, focused on developmental assistance, was made possible by a temporary travel ban exemption from the UN Security Council. While India has not officially recognised the Taliban regime, it maintains a "technical team" in Kabul and has provided humanitarian aid, signaling a gradual engagement with the new authorities.
Unpacked:
The UN Security Council imposed travel bans on Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders in 2001 due to their association with the Taliban’s previous regime, which was linked to terrorism, human rights abuses, and harboring al-Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks. The bans are part of broader sanctions targeting Taliban officials.
Since 2021, India has provided humanitarian aid including wheat, medicines, COVID-19 vaccines, and winter clothing to Afghanistan. India reopened its embassy with a technical team to coordinate assistance but has stopped large-scale development projects due to security and recognition concerns.
Previously, India supported the elected governments in Afghanistan and invested heavily in infrastructure and development projects. Since the Taliban takeover, India has not recognized the new regime, scaled back direct engagement, and focuses on humanitarian aid while maintaining only a limited technical presence in Kabul.
India’s main concerns include ensuring Afghan soil is not used for anti-India terrorist activities, maintaining regional security, preventing instability, and safeguarding its past investments. India also worries about human rights, especially the Taliban’s restrictions on women and minorities.