More than four years after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, which forced India to shut down its embassy in Kabul and evacuate diplomats amid the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government, New Delhi has now extended a red-carpet welcome to the group’s leadership.
A delegation led by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in the Indian capital for a weeklong official visit, marking the first-ever visit by a Taliban leader to India. Muttaqi, who remains on a United Nations sanctions list, received a temporary travel exemption from the UN to attend the meetings.
The visit represents a striking shift in India’s foreign policy. Analysts describe it as a strategic move of pragmatism — aimed at countering Pakistani influence in Afghanistan, as ties between Kabul and Islamabad have recently soured over cross-border tensions.
Indian officials, while cautious, view this engagement as part of a broader regional stability effort, focusing on trade, counterterrorism cooperation, and humanitarian aid.
Critics, however, argue that hosting Taliban leaders risks granting them legitimacy and implicit recognition, despite ongoing human rights concerns and the group’s lack of global acceptance.
The question now is whether India’s diplomatic gamble will strengthen its strategic footing in the region — or entangle it further in Afghanistan’s uncertain political future.
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