Taliban’s Surprise India Visit: Pakistan’s Worst Fear?
Taliban FM’s historic trip could redefine South Asian alliances.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit New Delhi on October 9, 2025, marking the first high-level Taliban engagement with India since their 2021 Kabul takeover. Granted a UN Security Council travel ban exemption for October 9-16, Muttaqi’s trip signals a potential shift in South Asian geopolitics, with India seizing a strategic opening amid strained Taliban-Pakistan ties.
The visit follows months of discreet talks. Since January 2025, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and diplomat J.P. Singh met Muttaqi in Dubai, discussing humanitarian aid, health sector support, and refugee rehabilitation. A landmark May 15 call between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Muttaqi—the first ministerial contact since 2021—saw Jaishankar thank the Taliban for condemning the April Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, blamed on Pakistan-backed militants. In April, Taliban leaders, briefed on the attack in Kabul, aligned with India’s anti-terror stance.
India’s humanitarian efforts have intensified despite non-recognition of the Taliban government. After a September 2025 earthquake, India swiftly sent 1,000 family tents, 15 tonnes of food, and later 21 tonnes of medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, and generators. Since 2021, India has provided nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 330 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, and 40,000 litres of pesticides, supporting millions facing food and health crises.
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Muttaqi’s October 10 meeting with Jaishankar will likely cover counter-terrorism, economic ties, and inclusive governance—key Indian priorities. The Taliban has also requested Indian aid in energy and infrastructure, hinting at deeper cooperation.
The visit underscores Pakistan’s fading grip on Kabul. Islamabad’s 2025 expulsion of over 80,000 Afghan refugees soured ties with the Taliban, giving India room to expand its role. Analysts see Muttaqi’s trip as Kabul’s move to diversify alliances, countering Pakistan and China’s regional sway. “This is a clear signal of Afghanistan’s pivot toward balanced diplomacy,” a senior Indian official noted.
India’s calculated engagement aims to secure its interests, curb terror threats, and stabilize Afghanistan without formal recognition. The UN’s travel waiver highlights the visit’s global significance. With Muttaqi also visiting Moscow on October 6, this week could reshape India-Afghanistan relations, potentially redrawing South Asia’s power map.
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