NEW DELHI: A highly anticipated visit to India by Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has been called off. The visit, which would have been the first ministerial-level interaction between the two sides since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, was postponed after Muttaqi failed to secure a necessary waiver to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travel ban.
Muttaqi is among several senior Taliban leaders sanctioned by the UNSC. These sanctions include a travel ban that requires a special waiver for any international travel. According to sources, the visit was postponed as the waiver could not be obtained.
The planned visit was seen as a significant step in the evolving relationship between India and the Taliban regime. While New Delhi has not yet formally recognized the Taliban government, it has maintained consistent engagement with Afghan authorities, primarily focused on providing humanitarian aid and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against India.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had a phone conversation with Muttaqi in May, which marked the highest level of contact between New Delhi and Kabul since the Taliban’s takeover. The proposed visit was seen as a potential follow-up to this conversation, signaling a further deepening of ties.
The cancellation of the visit underscores the complex diplomatic challenges surrounding India’s engagement with the Taliban. While India is keen to maintain its influence in Afghanistan and support the Afghan people, it must also navigate the international sanctions regime. The UN Security Council’s 1988 sanctions committee, which oversees the travel ban, has been a key factor in this decision.
Sources indicate that the visit has been called off for now, but is expected to be rescheduled once the issue of the travel ban waiver is resolved. India has consistently affirmed its commitment to supporting the developmental needs of the Afghan people and continues to engage with Afghan authorities to this end.
