Taliban Envoy in Delhi: India Opens Door to New Afghanistan Ties

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi landed in New Delhi on Thursday for an eight-day visit, marking the highest-level Taliban engagement with India since their 2021 Kabul takeover. The trip, unthinkable just years ago, sees Muttaqi meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Indian business leaders to boost trade, economic ties, and diplomatic relations, signaling a bold reset in India’s Afghanistan policy.

Muttaqi’s visit, enabled by a temporary UN sanctions waiver, follows a sharp decline in Taliban-Pakistan ties, with Islamabad now labeling Afghanistan an “enemy” over border tensions. India, once a key backer of the ousted Western-aligned Afghan government, has pivoted to pragmatic engagement, maintaining a small Kabul mission and sending humanitarian aid. The Taliban, seeking legitimacy and less reliance on Pakistan, views India as a vital partner for trade in dry fruits, health services, and port access via Iran’s Chabahar.

The talks, set to cover regional stability and economic cooperation, reflect mutual realpolitik. India’s concerns center on preventing Afghan soil from hosting anti-India terror groups like ISIS-K, while the Taliban aims to counter China-Pakistan influence through Central Asian connectivity. The visit, including Muttaqi’s stops at Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband seminary and Agra’s Taj Mahal, underscores a symbolic outreach. Yet, both sides tread carefully, mindful of past hostilities and domestic skepticism over deeper ties.

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This engagement, following quiet diplomacy like visa issuances and consulate reopenings in Mumbai and Hyderabad, marks a setback for Pakistan’s regional clout. As India navigates this unlikely alliance amid strained U.S. ties and domestic polls, Muttaqi’s visit could redefine South Asian power dynamics—or falter if strategic trust wanes.

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