Taliban flag poses diplomatic dilemma for India as Afghan foreign minister arrives in New Delhi

Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in India on Thursday

Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday arrived in India on a weeklong visit. The October 9-16 visit by Muttaqi represents the first official delegation from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Dilemma for India

With the Taliban foreign minister’s scheduled meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday, New Delhi faces a diplomatic dilemma: which is whether to let the Taliban flag be positioned next to the Indian flag during the meet.

India has not officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan and, as a result, does not permit the Taliban flag to be flown at the Afghan Embassy.

The mission continues to display the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, formerly led by ousted President Ashraf Ghani -- a practice that has remained unchanged so far.

However, when Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s foreign minister Muttaqi will meet Jaishankar, the diplomatic protocol is to place the flags of both countries behind the leaders and/or on the table. The Indian Express, citing sources, reported that officials are deliberating on how to navigate the unusual situation that has come up because India doesn’t recognise the Taliban.

In the last few meetings between Indian officials and Muttaqi in Kabul, the Taliban flag has been displayed in the background. During the January meeting between foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Muttaqi in Dubai, neither of the flags were put up. However, the current setting in New Delhi poses a challenge.

Afghan foreign minister's India visit

Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a week-long visit to India. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X announcing his arrival said, "We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues."

Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry was cited by Tolo News as saying that during this visit, Muttaqi will meet with his Indian counterpart and other senior officials to discuss various issues, including "expanding relations between Kabul and New Delhi."

Although India does not formally recognise the Taliban, addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal confirmed on October 3 of the continued engagement with the interim government in Afghanistan, highlighting both diplomatic exchanges and humanitarian assistance following a recent earthquake in the region.

The United Nations Security Council has approved a temporary exemption on international travel restrictions for Muttaqi, allowing him to stay in India for a week beginning October 9.