Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi Set for First India Visit Since 2021 After UN Travel Ban Waiver
On October 9, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will travel to India. It is the first time a high-ranking Taliban team will visit New Delhi since 2021. The visit follows months of increasing humanitarian help from India and backchannel diplomacy.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 3: Next week, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is scheduled to travel to India. It is for the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021.
India has so far maintained a low level of interaction with the Taliban government. The country concentrates mostly on humanitarian aid and interpersonal relationships. It still maintains its worries about terrorism and the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan.
UN Approves Temporary Waiver for New Delhi Trip
The visit is noteworthy since Muttaqi has been subject to travel bans and other UN Security Council sanctions. It requires special waivers for him to go overseas.
Muttaqi has been given a temporary travel exemption by the UN Security Council from October 9 to October 16. He cites the importance of the visit for Kabul and regional powers.
The UN said, "On 30 September 2025, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved an exemption to the travel ban for Amir Khan Motaqi (TAi . 026) to visit New Delhi, India, from 9 to 16 October 2025," in a statement.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "All of you would have seen the exemption that has been granted by the UN Security Council Committee for the travel of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister to New Delhi from the 9th to 16th of October. We will keep you updated in this regard” regarding the visit.
India Balances Aid, Security, and Human Rights Concerns
Afghanistan's political environment changed significantly in 2021 with the Taliban's return to power. On August 15, the Taliban took over the nation and seized control of Kabul. They compelled Ashraf Ghani, the president at the time, to leave.
New Delhi evacuated its residents and embassies following the Taliban takeover. Later, in 2022, it reactivated a "technical mission" in Kabul. It was to supervise the provision of humanitarian goods and maintain diplomatic presence.
India has provided Afghanistan with approximately 50,000 tons of wheat, more than 330 tonnes of medications and vaccinations, 40,000 liters of insecticides, and other necessities since the Taliban took power in 2021. They provide essential help to millions of Afghans who are suffering.
Backchannel Talks Paved Way for High-Level Meeting
According to the report, this visit has been planned for some months in Indian diplomatic circles. Since January, Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders have participated in several rounds of talks with Indian officials in neutral places like Dubai. Muttaqi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had their first ministerial-level conversation since 2021 in May. This is after India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the Taliban for criticizing the Pahalgam terror incident during that discussion.
