Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional issues.
Welcoming the Afghan minister, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on X, “We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues.” Muttaqi is scheduled to remain in India until October 16.
During his visit, Muttaqi is expected to call on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The Afghan Foreign Minister had originally planned to visit India a few weeks ago, but was unable to obtain a travel exemption from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Last week, addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the UNSC Committee had granted an exemption for Muttaqi’s travel.
“All of you would have seen the exemption that has been granted by the UN Security Council Committee for the travel of the Afghan Foreign Minister to New Delhi from October 9 to 16. This public information is in the public domain. We shall keep you updated in this regard,” Jaiswal told reporters.
On India’s conditions for recognising the interim Taliban government, Jaiswal said, “We have been having conversations with the interim government in Afghanistan. You would have seen the telecon that had taken place some time back between the External Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister Muttaqi. Also, we’ve had a conversation between the Joint Secretary in charge and his counterparts on the Afghan side.”
New Delhi is expected to discuss humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development projects during the visit.
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Jaiswal highlighted India’s recent response to natural disasters in Afghanistan, saying, “Recently, when the earthquake happened, the same day, we were able to transport relief material to Kunar province, and subsequently we sent more relief material via Chabahar.”
The visit follows several diplomatic engagements between New Delhi and the Taliban regime in recent months, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s meeting with Muttaqi in January.
Several Afghan officials have also visited India, including Deputy Minister of Medicine and Food Hamdullah Zahid, who attended the 11th edition of the International Exhibition on Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare last month.
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