Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's Historic Visit to India: Diplomatic Challenges and Regional Implications

Afghanistan's UN-sanctioned Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in India for a week-long visit. This marks the first visit by a senior Taliban leader to India since the group regained power in Afghanistan in 2021 after US-led forces withdrew.

During his stay in India, Muttaqi is expected to meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The timing of this visit is significant for regional diplomacy and will likely be closely monitored by Pakistan, as New Delhi seeks to strengthen its engagement with the Taliban administration in Kabul.

As South Block prepares for bilateral meetings, officials face a protocol challenge regarding flag displays. Diplomatic protocol requires the Indian flag to be placed alongside the visiting country's flag during photo opportunities. However, since India does not officially recognize Taliban rule in Afghanistan, it has not granted official status to the Taliban flag.

Currently, New Delhi does not permit the Taliban to fly its flag—a white cloth bearing the black shahada (Islamic declaration of faith)—at the Afghan Embassy in India. The embassy continues to display the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan flag from President Ashraf Ghani's administration.

In previous meetings between Indian officials and Muttaqi, the Taliban has used their flag in the background. When Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Muttaqi in Dubai earlier this year, officials resolved the issue by not displaying any flags. With this meeting occurring in Delhi, the flag issue presents a diplomatic challenge.

India and Afghanistan historically maintained friendly relations, but New Delhi closed its embassy in Kabul following the 2021 US withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power. India later established a small mission to facilitate trade, medical support, and humanitarian aid.

Although India does not officially recognize the Taliban government, it has taken tentative steps to improve relations through meetings between senior foreign ministry officials.

Muttaqi's visit is expected to introduce a new dimension to India's relationship with the Taliban government in Kabul. It follows India's recent participation with Russia, China, and seven other nations in opposing foreign military infrastructure deployment in Afghanistan, responding to US President Trump's calls for the Taliban to surrender the strategic Bagram airbase. The participating nations expressed support for Afghanistan's integration into regional connectivity systems.

New Delhi has consistently emphasized that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorist activities against any country.

This visit comes after Muttaqi's May 15 phone conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar following Operation Sindoor, when the Kabul regime condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalghan.

In January, the Taliban administration described India as an "important" regional and economic power after talks between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Muttaqi.