New delhi: Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi for a week-long visit, marking the first visit by any top Afghan diplomat since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, officials stated. The arrival of Muttaqi was confirmed by Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, who expressed anticipation for engaging discussions on bilateral relations and regional issues through a post on US social media company X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Muttaqi's visit to India has been made possible by a travel exemption granted by the UN Security Council Committee. His visit is scheduled to conclude on October 16. New Delhi had initially closed its embassy in Kabul following the fall of the West-backed regime in Afghanistan, which paved the way for the Taliban's return. However, the embassy resumed operations in 2022 with a 'technical team,' leading to direct engagements with the interim Afghan administration.

Trade relations between Afghanistan and India have shown significant growth, with bilateral trade reaching $890 million last year. This visit by Muttaqi could further enhance these relations as discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional concerns.