Desk Report:
A UN Security Council committee has temporarily lifted the travel ban on Amir Khan Muttahida Qadri, the foreign minister of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, clearing the way for his visit to India between October 9 and 16, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday (October 3).
If the visit goes ahead, it will be the first visit to India by a top Taliban leader since the group returned to power in 2021.
India and Afghanistan have historically had close ties, but ties have deteriorated since the Taliban were in power.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttahida Qadri is under UN sanctions, which include a travel ban and asset freeze. However, the ban is occasionally waived for diplomatic purposes.
On Friday, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said that New Delhi is already in touch with the Afghan administration. India has also sent humanitarian aid after a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan on August 31. However, he did not directly confirm Muttaqi’s visit.
Meanwhile, Taliban Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal said that bilateral cooperation, trade exchange, dry fruit export, health sector facilities, consular services and use of various ports will be discussed during the visit. However, he did not specify a specific date for the visit.
According to Indian and Afghan media reports, Muttaqi will visit Russia before coming to New Delhi. There, he will hold meetings with representatives of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and Central Asian countries on the situation in Afghanistan.
Afghan political analyst Hekmatullah Hekmat said, “This visit is very significant for the Taliban government. Afghanistan is currently desperate to build political, economic and trade relations with regional countries. This is also important in achieving recognition.”
It is worth noting that so far only Russia has officially recognized the Taliban government. Although India closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021, it opened a technical mission a year later to coordinate humanitarian assistance.
