In 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan after the fall of the US forces, it led to a tragic shift in relations of the Asian country with the rest of the world. India immediately withdrew diplomatic ties and pulled out Indian citizens from Afghan soil.
Four years after the regime change, India welcomed the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban leader, in New Delhi. Muttaqi is on a seven-day visit to India, which is the first one by any Taliban leader and is being hailed as a groundbreaking event. Muttaqi still holds his name in the sanction list of the United Nations and is allowed to visit India after a travel exemption.
India’s changed attitude towards Afghanistan is viewed through the lens of its archenemy, Pakistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a border dispute, and the current visit can be seen in the backdrop to curtail the Pakistani presence in Afghanistan. Muttaqi met the Foreign Minister of India, S Jaishankar, in Delhi. Mr Jaishankar stated that the two countries aim to increase cooperation for national security and stability in the region. He also affirmed that India remains committed to maintaining the sovereignty and integrity of Afghanistan.
Muttaqi referred to India as a “close friend”, and in a joint statement, both leaders assured regular engagement and continued relations between India and Afghanistan. The Afghan leader also asked the Indian companies to invest in the mining sector in Afghanistan for better trade and commerce cooperation. New Delhi has further emphasised increasing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, which remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
Muttaqi also visited Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, which is the host of Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary. On Monday, the Taliban leader also announced that direct flights will soon run between India and Kabul, including Amritsar in Punjab.
The visit of the Afghan leader is crucial for the country, which is struggling to get international recognition and build diplomatic ties. Russia is the only country that recognises the Taliban administration, as most of the leaders are on the United Nations sanctions list.
