Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi lands in India for high-level talks

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in India on his first official visit, a move analysts view as significant amid widening regional rifts in South Asia over terrorism and instability.

Although New Delhi has yet to recognise Afghanistan’s current government, Muttaqi is scheduled to hold talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on political, economic, and trade cooperation to strengthen bilateral ties.

Previously, Muttaqi had been barred from international travel by a UNSC Committee. This visit is his first foreign trip since the travel ban was temporarily lifted.

According to reports, Muttaqi’s visit is expected to last eight days, unusually long for any Afghan official since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the subsequent establishment of the interim government.

Recently, Pakistan, India, Iran, China, Russia, and Afghanistan collectively opposed the idea of any foreign military presence in the region, particularly at the Bagram airbase, after former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire to regain control of it.

Historically, New Delhi and Kabul have maintained close and cordial relations. However, India closed its embassy in Kabul following the US withdrawal. Later, in a bid to restore ties, the Indian government extended humanitarian assistance and resumed limited trade operations.

The meeting between the two foreign ministers is seen as an important development given the tense dynamics in South Asia, where major powers Pakistan and India remain at odds, a factor that continues to influence regional diplomacy and efforts to secure international support.