Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi heads to India next week for a landmark visit that could thaw years of tense relations between the two nations. This trip, set for October 9 to 16 in New Delhi, comes after the UN Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee cleared an exemption, allowing Muttaqi to travel despite ongoing restrictions.
India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will sit down with Muttaqi for key talks, and the Afghan leader might also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. It’s a big step forward in India-Afghanistan diplomacy, especially since ties have been rocky since the Taliban took power in 2021.
Counter-terrorism tops the agenda, with both sides facing shared threats from groups operating out of Pakistan. Expect discussions on boosting security cooperation to tackle these issues head-on. Afghanistan wants to dive into regional security concerns too, while pushing for stronger trade links. That means breaking down barriers to bilateral trade, improving transport routes, ramping up cross-border commerce, and exploring new trade corridors between India and Afghanistan.
Other hot topics include easing visa quotas to help Afghan medical patients, students, and business travelers get to India more easily. India plans to expand scholarships for Afghan students in professional and technical fields. Cooperation on healthcare, including medical facilities and health missions, will also feature prominently. Talks will touch on infrastructure projects, water resources, and electricity supply to support Afghanistan’s development.
A major focus: upgrading India’s embassy in Kabul. Both countries aim to appoint full-fledged ambassadors and grow consular services, paving the way for official state-to-state engagement.
This isn’t Muttaqi’s first try— a September visit fell through when the UN blocked it, largely due to opposition from Pakistan, a non-permanent Security Council member. UN rules require consensus, so one holdout can derail plans. Back in May, Jaishankar chatted with Muttaqi and praised his strong words against the Pahalgam terror attack in India.
The visit fits into India’s broader diplomatic push. Over the past year, Indian officials like Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior diplomat J.P. Singh have met Taliban leaders multiple times in places like Dubai to build bridges.
Why does this matter to India? Regional geopolitics and economic interests in Central Asia are at stake. The Taliban once seemed like a Pakistani ally, but things shifted when they wouldn’t curb the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group. Pakistan blames the Taliban for supporting the TTP, though they deny it. Meanwhile, China is cozying up to the Taliban for access to resources, which could squeeze India’s influence in the area. Stronger India-Taliban ties help counter that.
Muttaqi has led Afghanistan’s foreign affairs since the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021. He recently joined a trilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, where they agreed to extend China’s Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan.
Watch this space— Muttaqi’s visit signals a potential reset in India-Afghanistan relations, with ripple effects across South Asia and beyond.
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