Taliban Diplomatic Breakthrough: Why Amir Khan Muttaqi’s Visit Marks a New Era in India-Afghanistan Relations

Published: 10 September 2025 . The English Chronicle Online

In a diplomatic move once considered unthinkable, Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in India for an eight-day visit that could reshape South Asia’s geopolitical map. The visit — the highest-level Taliban delegation to New Delhi since the group’s return to power in 2021 — signals a new chapter in India’s engagement with Afghanistan, one that blends pragmatism with strategic foresight.

Muttaqi’s trip, cleared under a temporary UN sanctions waiver, marks the Taliban’s growing bid for regional legitimacy and India’s willingness to engage with Kabul’s current rulers in pursuit of its national and security interests. Flying in from Russia — the only country to officially recognise the Taliban regime — Muttaqi is holding talks with Indian officials on trade, diplomatic, and economic cooperation. The visit follows months of quiet back-channel communication and policy recalibration by both nations.

In a significant policy shift, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Friday that New Delhi will reopen its embassy in Kabul, four years after shutting it down when the Taliban seized control. “Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development as well as regional stability and resilience,” Jaishankar said during his meeting with Muttaqi. He reaffirmed India’s “full commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.”

For his part, Muttaqi described India as a “close friend,” expressing optimism that the visit would pave the way for broader cooperation. The Afghan delegation, which includes senior officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and trade, is also expected to meet Indian business leaders and explore opportunities for trade and investment — a clear sign of the Taliban’s attempt to secure economic partners amid international isolation.

The visit represents not just a symbolic breakthrough but a pragmatic recalibration of regional politics. For decades, India had aligned itself with the Western-backed Afghan government, while viewing the Taliban as a Pakistani proxy. The tables have now turned. As relations between Islamabad and Kabul deteriorate over cross-border militancy and territorial disputes, New Delhi is quietly moving in to fill the diplomatic vacuum.

Pakistan, which historically nurtured the Taliban during its rise to power in the 1990s, now finds itself on the sidelines. The once “strategic depth” partner has become a vocal critic, with Pakistani officials even labeling Afghanistan an “enemy country.” Pakistan accuses the Taliban of allowing Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to operate from Afghan soil — a charge Kabul denies. These tensions have prompted Pakistan to conduct airstrikes inside Afghan territory, further straining ties.

Analysts argue that the Taliban’s outreach to India serves both symbolic and strategic purposes. According to Harsh V. Pant and Shivam Shekhawat of the Observer Research Foundation, “The deterioration in ties with Pakistan allows the Taliban to hedge their bets and demonstrate that they are no longer dependent on Islamabad for survival.” This shift, they note, enables the Taliban to “carve out an identity separate from Pakistan and create a perception of legitimacy for their domestic constituents.”

Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney sees Muttaqi’s visit as “a setback for Pakistan” and a “cautious reset in India-Taliban relations.” He adds that the meeting underscores both sides’ intention to pursue pragmatic engagement in advancing their respective strategic goals, potentially reshaping regional power equations in the process.

India’s engagement with the Taliban has evolved rapidly since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. At that time, New Delhi evacuated its diplomats, shut down its embassy and consulates, and canceled thousands of Afghan visas over security concerns. But within a year, India had sent a technical team to Kabul to oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid and quietly reopened diplomatic channels. By mid-2022, it had begun issuing visas to Taliban officials and their families, signaling a soft normalization of ties.

Last November, India allowed the Taliban to appoint an envoy in New Delhi and later to open consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Over the past three years, several rounds of informal discussions have taken place abroad, including meetings between Muttaqi and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Dubai earlier this year. This steady progression highlights how both sides have chosen gradual diplomacy over confrontation.

India’s motivations for re-engagement are rooted in hard security interests. New Delhi remains deeply concerned about the activities of extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, and Pakistan-based militants who could use Afghan territory to target India. The Taliban leadership has repeatedly assured India that Afghanistan will not be used for such purposes — a message reiterated by Muttaqi during his latest visit.

Beyond security, India also sees Afghanistan as a critical link in its broader regional strategy. Strengthening ties with Kabul enables New Delhi to expand connectivity with Iran and the Central Asian republics, countering the growing influence of both Pakistan and China. A stable Afghanistan is essential for the success of India’s investment in regional trade corridors, energy projects, and overland transit routes.

Nonetheless, caution remains at the heart of India’s approach. New Delhi continues to maintain a measured distance, refraining from formally recognizing the Taliban government while deepening practical cooperation. This dual-track policy allows India to safeguard its interests without alienating Western allies or contradicting international consensus on Afghanistan’s political legitimacy.

Muttaqi’s visit, therefore, is more than a diplomatic courtesy — it is a sign of shifting regional realities. A decade ago, the idea of the Taliban walking the corridors of India’s foreign ministry would have been inconceivable. Today, it represents the normalization of realpolitik in South Asia, where survival, security, and influence increasingly trump ideology.

As the weeklong talks continue, both sides are expected to outline frameworks for humanitarian aid, regional connectivity, and counterterrorism cooperation. Whether this engagement leads to lasting partnership or remains a temporary convergence of interests will depend on the Taliban’s ability to deliver on its promises and India’s willingness to navigate the complexities of a post-U.S. Afghanistan.

For now, Muttaqi’s presence in New Delhi stands as a potent symbol — not only of Afghanistan’s evolving foreign policy but also of India’s growing confidence in shaping the future of its troubled neighborhood.

— The English Chronicle Online