Overview

• Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi for talks running October 9–16 after the UN Security Council’s 1988 Committee approved a temporary exemption to his travel ban.
• He is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss counterterrorism cooperation, trade including dry fruit exports, health services, consular facilitation and port access; a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval is reported as possible.
• India is extending full diplomatic protocol for the visit even as it maintains that it does not recognize the Taliban-led administration in Kabul.
• The trip follows Moscow Format consultations where regional states, including India, issued a joint statement opposing any foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan, a signal against President Trump’s push to retake Bagram air base.
• Officials are managing sensitive optics such as flag display as the itinerary features outreach to business groups and the Afghan community, plus planned visits to Darul Uloom Deoband and the Taj Mahal.