Afghan FM Muttaqi’s visit to India postponed over UN sanctions

A planned visit to India by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has been called off after failure to secure a travel waiver under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, Indian media reported on Saturday.

The trip, which was scheduled for this month, was postponed after the required exemption for Muttaqi’s travel could not be obtained. If it had gone ahead, it would have marked the first ministerial-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi since the Islamic Emirate took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Muttaqi is among several top IEA leaders subject to travel restrictions under UNSC sanctions. Such individuals must receive special approval to travel abroad, which in this case was not granted.

At a weekly media briefing, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about reports of Muttaqi’s proposed visit but refrained from commenting directly.

“As you are aware, we have longstanding ties with the people of Afghanistan. India continues to support the aspirations and developmental needs of the Afghan people,” he said.

“We continue to have engagements with Afghan authorities. If there is an update on this account, we will share it with you,” he said.

Earlier this year, on May 15, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with Muttaqi — the highest-level contact between India and Afghanistan since the IEA’s return to power.

While India has maintained humanitarian engagement with Afghanistan, New Delhi has not formally recognized the Islamic Emirate.