Taliban minister’s first India visit puts Delhi in a diplomatic fix over flag protocol

Afghanistan’s UN-sanctioned Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in India for a week-long official visit, marking the first trip by a senior Taliban leader to New Delhi since the group returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces. According to NDTV, Muttaqi was able to travel after the UN Security Council granted him a waiver from international travel restrictions. The report said he is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his stay. Observers note that the visit reflects India’s growing effort to open communication channels with the Taliban administration in Kabul. Both New Delhi and Islamabad, which share borders with Afghanistan, are keeping a close watch on...