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Taliban Foreign Minister Reportedly Plans Landmark Visit to India After Moscow Talks
If confirmed, FM Amir Khan Muttaqi’s India trip would mark the first Taliban senior visit since 2021 takeover. Reports suggest he’ll stop in Moscow first for regional talks.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-10-03
Taliban Foreign Minister Reportedly Plans Landmark Visit to India After Moscow Talks

In what could mark a major diplomatic shift, reports suggest that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is planning to visit India after holding talks in Moscow with regional stakeholders. If confirmed, it would be the first visit to New Delhi by a senior Taliban leader since the group regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US forces after two decades.

Muttaqi is among Taliban officials currently subject to United Nations sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze. Temporary exemptions, however, can be granted to facilitate diplomatic engagements. The Taliban-run administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding his travel plans.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson acknowledged that New Delhi has maintained contact with the Afghan administration and recently provided humanitarian support following the August 31 earthquake in Afghanistan. However, he did not directly confirm whether the visit will take place.

According to Indian and Afghan media, Muttaqi is expected to travel first to Moscow, where he will hold discussions with representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian states on the Afghan situation.

Hekmatullah Hekmat, a Kabul-based political analyst, described the possible visit as highly significant for the Taliban government. “Afghanistan is in dire need of establishing relations with regional countries, especially its neighbours. It needs to build political, economic, and trade ties and to gain recognition,” he noted.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, only Russia has formally recognised their government. India shut down its Kabul embassy in 2021, but reopened a technical mission the following year to facilitate humanitarian aid.

If the visit materialises, it would signal a cautious step by India toward deeper engagement with the Taliban authorities, amid broader regional realignments and growing concerns about stability in Afghanistan.
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