Reuters

KABUL: Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban foreign minister left for New Delhi on Wednesday, his ministry said, in what would be the first visit to India by a Taliban leader since the group seized power in 2021.&nbsp;The trip highlights Taliban efforts to expand engagement with regional powers in a quest for economic ties and eventual diplomatic recognition. So far, Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban administration.&nbsp;Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will hold talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other officials on political, economic and trade issues, the Afghan foreign ministry added.&nbsp;Historically, India and Afghanistan had friendly relations but New Delhi shut its embassy in Kabul after the 2021 US withdrawal from the war-shattered country and the return to power of the Taliban.&nbsp;India opened a small mission a year later to facilitate trade, medical support and humanitarian aid.&nbsp;New Delhi does not officially recognize the Taliban government but has taken tentative steps to thaw ties with meetings and talks between senior officials in their respective foreign ministries.&nbsp;Muttaqi&rsquo;s trip was made possible after the UN Security Council Committee temporarily lifted a travel ban on him to allow diplomatic engagements abroad, India&rsquo;s foreign ministry said last week.&nbsp;Discussions during Muttaqi&#39;s trip will centre on bilateral cooperation, trade exchanges, exports of dry fruit, facilities in the health sector, consular services and various ports, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said last week.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Muttaqi attended a regional meeting in Moscow where Afghanistan&rsquo;s neighbours, including India, Pakistan, Iran, China and several Central Asian countries issued a joint statement opposing the deployment of foreign military infrastructure in the region.&nbsp;The statement was regarded as a signal of opposition to US President Donald Trump&#39;s stated objective to retake control of the Bagram military base near Kabul.

Asia

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India for talks with Indian officials on trade and diplomacy, marking the Taliban’s first visit since taking power in 2021.

Taliban foreign minister makes first visit to India to strengthen ties

NEW DELHI/KABUL: The UN Security Council Committee has temporarily lifted a travel ban on the Afghan Taliban foreign minister, which would allow him to visit India between October 9 and 16, India&#39;s foreign ministry said on Friday.&nbsp;If confirmed, it would be the first visit to India by a senior leader of the Taliban-run Afghan administration since it seized power in 2021 after 20 years of US military presence. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is among Afghan Taliban members who are under UN sanctions including a travel ban and asset freeze.&nbsp; Temporary exemptions are sometimes granted for diplomacy. The Afghan administration did not immediately respond to inquiries about Muttaqi&#39;s travel plans.&nbsp;India&#39;s foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters that New Delhi had already been speaking to the Afghan administration, and noted that it had provided support after an earthquake on August 31.&nbsp;&nbsp;He did not specifically confirm that the visit would take place.&nbsp;Indian and Afghan media have reported that Muttaqi will travel to Russia before visiting New Delhi.&nbsp;In Moscow, he is expected to discuss the situation in Afghanistan with representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries, the reports say.&nbsp;Hekmatullah Hekmat, an Afghan political analyst, said the visit to India was highly significant for the Taliban government:&nbsp;&quot;Afghanistan is in dire need of establishing relations with regional countries, especially its neighbors.&nbsp;It needs to build political, economic, and trade ties and to gain recognition.&quot;&nbsp;Only Russia has so far recognized the Taliban government.&nbsp; India closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021, but a year later opened a technical mission to coordinate humanitarian assistance.

The UN has temporarily lifted a travel ban on Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, potentially allowing his first visit to India since 2021, signaling diplomatic engagement amid Afghanistan’s push for regional ties and recognition.

Articles tagged with "Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi"

Taliban foreign minister makes first visit to India to strengthen ties

India set to receive first Afghan Taliban minister