India is preparing to host the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, next week after the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee granted him a temporary exemption from his long-standing travel ban. The visit, scheduled for October 9–16, marks the first official trip to India by a senior Taliban representative since the group seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

The exemption, approved under Resolution 1988 (2011), allows Muttaqi to travel to New Delhi for diplomatic engagements. The Taliban leader, who has been under UN sanctions since 2001, including an asset freeze and arms embargo, was previously denied a waiver in August.

According to the UN committee’s statement, the decision was made on September 30, enabling Muttaqi to make his long-anticipated trip. His visit follows growing regional recognition of the Taliban government by countries such as Russia, China, Qatar, and the UAE.

India’s diplomatic reengagement with Kabul

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would engage with the Taliban delegation, noting India’s continued humanitarian support to Afghanistan, including aid following the devastating earthquake in August.

Although India closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, New Delhi has maintained limited contact with the group through informal diplomatic channels, including earlier meetings in Doha.

Experts view the visit as part of the Taliban’s broader push for international legitimacy and economic engagement. Reports indicate that Muttaqi is expected to visit Russia before arriving in India, signaling Kabul’s effort to deepen ties with regional powers.

In July, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, while China hosted trilateral talks in Kabul in August alongside Afghanistan and Pakistan, underscoring the shifting dynamics of regional diplomacy surrounding the Taliban-led administration.