In a major diplomatic development, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Taliban government is set to visit India on October 9, 2025, marking the first high-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The visit has been cleared by the United Nations Security Council, which granted Muttaqi a temporary travel exemption from October 9 to 16, highlighting the significance of the trip for regional diplomacy and bilateral relations. According to the UN statement, the exemption was issued by the Security Council Committee established under resolution 1988 (2011) to facilitate Muttaqi’s travel to India for this critical engagement.

Months of Backchannel Diplomacy

Indian diplomatic circles have been preparing for this visit over several months, reflecting a strategic approach to engage with Kabul without destabilizing regional dynamics. Since January 2025, Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, have conducted multiple rounds of dialogue with Amir Khan Muttaqi and other senior Taliban leaders in neutral locations such as Dubai. These discussions focused on humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism cooperation, and broader regional security concerns.

In May 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with Muttaqi following India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, marking the first ministerial-level contact between New Delhi and the Taliban since 2021. During the conversation, Jaishankar thanked the Taliban for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirmed India’s traditional friendship with the Afghan people, establishing a foundation of trust for future engagement.

Taliban Condemnation of Terror Attacks

In a notable shift, the Taliban strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 during a meeting with Indian officials in Kabul. Analysts interpreted this move as a clear signal that Afghanistan under the Taliban is aligning with India on countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The condemnation, widely welcomed in New Delhi, helped pave the way for direct engagement and diplomatic normalization between India and the Taliban-led government.

India’s Humanitarian Outreach

India’s engagement with Afghanistan has extended beyond diplomacy to substantial humanitarian support. Following the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan in September 2025, India was among the first nations to respond, sending 1,000 family tents and 15 tonnes of food supplies. Additional relief shipments included 21 tonnes of essential goods, covering medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, and generators.

Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, India has provided nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat, over 330 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, 40,000 litres of pesticides, and other essential commodities. These efforts have been crucial in supporting millions of Afghans facing severe hardship, establishing India as a key humanitarian partner in the region.

Strategic Implications for the Region

Muttaqi’s visit carries strategic significance beyond humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions. Analysts note that it represents a diplomatic setback for Pakistan, which has traditionally exercised strong influence over Kabul. Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban deteriorated earlier this year after Pakistan deported over 80,000 Afghan refugees, creating an opening for India to expand its influence and engagement in Afghanistan.

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The visit signals Kabul’s intent to diversify foreign relations, reducing reliance on Pakistan while strengthening ties with India. For New Delhi, this is a calculated diplomatic step aimed at safeguarding India’s security interests, countering terror threats, and balancing Chinese and Pakistani influence in South Asia.

Bilateral Cooperation and Regional Stability

India’s engagement with the Taliban-led government is also part of a broader regional strategy. By maintaining direct contacts, India hopes to:

• Ensure stability in Afghanistan to prevent cross-border terrorism.

• Support reconstruction and humanitarian efforts to build goodwill among Afghan civilians.

• Strengthen diplomatic channels to counterbalance regional actors like China and Pakistan.

The upcoming visit is expected to include high-level talks on economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and security coordination, cementing India’s role as a reliable partner for Afghanistan.

Conclusion

The scheduled visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India on October 9, 2025, marks a historic moment in India-Afghanistan relations. It is the first senior-level diplomatic engagement since the Taliban takeover in 2021, symbolizing both humanitarian cooperation and strategic diplomacy.

By engaging directly with the Taliban government, India has demonstrated its commitment to regional stability, counterterrorism, and humanitarian support, while strategically reducing Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan. This diplomatic breakthrough reflects India’s careful, measured approach in navigating complex regional geopolitics, balancing humanitarian imperatives with strategic interests, and ensuring long-term engagement with Afghanistan under the Taliban.

India’s proactive humanitarian efforts, combined with backchannel diplomacy and high-level ministerial contacts, have laid the groundwork for Muttaqi’s visit, signaling a new chapter in bilateral relations that could reshape the South Asian geopolitical landscape in the years to come.

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