Afghanistan’s Taliban Foreign Minister Visits India Amid Rising Regional Tensions

KABUL: Afghanistan’s UN-sanctioned foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in India on Thursday, marking the first visit by a senior Taliban leader since their return to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces. The visit, made possible through a UN Security Council travel waiver, is seen as a significant diplomatic move amid growing regional rivalries.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed Muttaqi warmly, with spokesman Randhir Jaiswal stating, “We look forward to engaging discussions on bilateral relations and regional issues.” Muttaqi is scheduled to meet with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Although neither side has revealed the specific agenda, analysts expect trade and security to be central topics. However, India is not expected to extend formal diplomatic recognition to the Taliban government at this stage.

The visit reflects India’s strategic intent to strengthen influence in Afghanistan and avoid falling behind regional rivals China and Pakistan. “New Delhi is eager to establish its influence in Kabul,” said Praveen Donthi, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

Muttaqi’s trip follows recent meetings in Russia, currently the only country to officially recognize the Taliban administration. While the Taliban seek diplomatic legitimacy, experts believe formal recognition from India is still some way off. Former Indian ambassador to Kabul Rakesh Sood emphasized, “India is not in a hurry to provide diplomatic recognition to the Taliban.”

India hosts tens of thousands of Afghan refugees and maintains limited diplomatic presence through consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad, though Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi closed in 2023. India describes its mission in Kabul as primarily focused on coordinating humanitarian aid.

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The visit is also seen as a geopolitical maneuver to deepen ties with Kabul and exploit tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani analyst Wahed Faqiri described the visit as a “remarkable development” amid heightened tensions between the Taliban and Islamabad. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring militants launching attacks on Pakistani soil—claims denied by Kabul.

With India and Pakistan locked in a fragile rivalry that recently erupted into a deadly clash in May, Muttaqi’s visit is expected to further strain Pakistan-India relations. “The visit would certainly make Pakistan angrier and more suspicious,” said Faqiri. “It strengthens India’s position in Afghanistan and aims to drive a wedge between the Taliban and Pakistan.”

As the complex diplomatic chessboard in South Asia unfolds, Muttaqi’s visit highlights India’s cautious but deliberate approach to engaging with the Taliban government amid shifting regional dynamics.