September 13, 2025

NEW DELHI: Hold on to your hats! A junior Taliban minister made a surprising visit to India last week. Hamdullah Zahid, the Deputy Minister of Medicine and Food for the Taliban, came all the way to join an exhibition on healthcare and pharmaceuticals. His rank is just like a secretary in India's health ministry, so this was no small visit. This rare trip happened as India gears up for a likely visit by Taliban's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, later this year. This visit is expected to bring India and the Taliban closer, even though India has not officially recognized the Taliban government in Kabul yet. A spokesperson from India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India has been keeping in touch with the Taliban to fix dates for Muttaqi’s visit. Since Muttaqi is on a UN Security Council travel ban list, India plans to ask for a special waiver to allow his entry. But lucky for Zahid, he is not on the sanctions list and could come without any UN approval. Adding more fuel to the fire, Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's head of political office and Afghan ambassador to Qatar, told the Times of India, "For that, high level visits of foreign ministers’ level is a need. It will pave the way for exploring various fields of cooperation including trade between the two countries." So, what’s cooking in the kitchen? With these important visits and talks, India and the Taliban seem ready to spice up their relationship. Talks of better cooperation and trade are on the cards, making this an exciting time for both nations, despite the complex political backdrop. Stay tuned!

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Tags: Taliban visit, India-afghanistan ties, Taliban foreign minister, Hamdullah zahid, Amir khan muttaqi, Unsc waiver,