TL;DR: Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, visited India from October 9-16, 2025, the first such high-level visit since the Taliban took power in 2021. He met senior Indian officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who announced that India’s mission in Kabul will be upgraded to a full embassy. The visit signals deepening India-Taliban engagement amid regional shifts.
What Happened
- Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on October 9, 2025, for an eight-day official visit, enabled by a UN Security Council travel ban exemption approved on September 30, 2025.
- He met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on October 10, followed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
- India announced the upgrade of its Kabul Technical Mission to a full embassy, signaling deeper diplomatic engagement.
- India reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, humanitarian aid, and development, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
- Muttaqi gave assurances that “Afghan soil will not be used against India”.
Bilateral Agreements and Aid
- India will provide 20 ambulances and scholarships for Afghan students.
- Humanitarian aid, including food, medicines, and disaster relief supplies, will continue.
- Both sides agreed to cooperate on hydroelectric projects, including the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam, and to enhance trade via the Air Freight Corridor.
- Afghan officials invited Indian investment in the mining sector and other industries.
Symbolic Visit to Darul Uloom Deoband
- On October 11, Muttaqi visited Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, meeting Islamic scholars and touring the seminary.
- He described the ties as “historic” and predicted a “bright future” for India-Afghanistan relations.
- The visit drew criticism on social media due to the seminary’s ideological links with the Taliban.
Controversies
- A Taliban press interaction in New Delhi excluded women journalists, prompting backlash. Critics called it “misogynistic” and a violation of press freedom.
- Some Indian commentators warned that welcoming Taliban leaders “normalizes extremist ideology” and risks influencing vulnerable communities.
Regional and Diplomatic Context
- The visit follows Taliban meetings in Moscow, where Russia, the only country to recognize the Taliban, hosted regional talks.
- India has not recognized the Taliban government but maintains a pragmatic engagement approach.
- The visit is seen as a strategic shift for India amid strained Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and regional power competition involving China and Russia.