Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is scheduled to visit India from October 9, marking the first high-level delegation from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, officials confirmed on Friday.
Addressing the media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted ongoing engagement with the interim Afghan government, covering both diplomatic discussions and humanitarian assistance following a recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
“The conversation between the two ministers took place earlier this year in May,” Jaiswal said, referring to a teleconference between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Muttaqi. “We also had a conversation between the Joint Secretary in charge and his counterparts on the Afghan side.”
The United Nations Security Council has approved a temporary exemption from international travel restrictions for Muttaqi, allowing him to remain in India for a week beginning October 9. Jaiswal added, “We will keep you updated with the developments that will happen regarding the visit.”
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India has been actively supporting earthquake relief efforts. “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,” he said.
Jaishankar on Tuesday confirmed on X that 21 tonnes of relief material, including blankets, tents, hygiene kits, water storage tanks, generators, kitchen utensils, portable water purifiers, sleeping bags, essential medicines, wheelchairs, hand sanitisers, water purification tablets, ORS solutions, and medical consumables, were airlifted to Kabul. “India will continue to monitor the ground situation and send more humanitarian aid over the coming days,” the minister added.
The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has killed at least 1,411 people and injured over 3,000, with the majority of casualties reported in Kunar province. Rescue operations continue, as officials race to locate survivors following the magnitude 6.0 tremor.
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