Taliban foreign minister Muttaqi to visit India following UN travel ban exemption

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (File photo: ANI)

The UN Security Council’s Taliban Sanctions Committee has approved an exemption to the travel ban on Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, paving the way for his visit to New Delhi next week.

The Committee, created under resolution 1988 (2011), announced on September 30, 2025, that it “approved an exemption to the travel ban for Amir Khan Muttaqi to visit New Delhi, India, from October 9 to 16, 2025.”

This development marks the first ministerial-level trip from Kabul to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Muttaqi has been under UN sanctions since January 25, 2001, which placed him on the list subjecting him to a travel ban, an assets freeze, and an arms embargo.

India has repeatedly underlined that Afghan territory should not serve as a staging ground for any terrorist activities against any country, while also stressing the need for Kabul to establish a “truly inclusive government.” Although New Delhi has not formally recognised the Taliban regime, it has continued to engage with Afghanistan at different levels.

The Taliban minister, described by the UN as “considered to be a prominent member of the Taliban,” had in the past represented the group in UN-led discussions during their earlier rule.

The 1988 Sanctions Committee, which functions by consensus and includes all 15 members of the UN Security Council, is currently chaired by Pakistan, with Guyana and Russia serving as Vice-Chairs for 2025.

Last month, a planned trip by Muttaqi to India did not materialise after he failed to obtain the required waiver.

In May 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar disclosed that he had spoken to Muttaqi. “I had a good conversation with him,” Jaishankar said, noting that he “deeply appreciated his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.” He further added, “welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports. Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward.”

The Taliban minister’s upcoming visit is being closely watched, given its timing and the continuing international debates over how countries should engage with Afghanistan’s current leadership.

With inputs from agencies