India visit of Taliban minister runs into travel waiver trouble

NEW DELHI: Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s planned visit to India is likely to be delayed with UNSC yet to grant him the waiver he needs to travel to India. While Afghan media reported that the Security Council denied a waiver to Muttaqi, sources said dates for the visit have not been finalised. Because of UN travel ban imposed on the Taliban leader, India needs to get approval from the Council to facilitate his travel. TOI had reported on Aug 28 that Muttaqi was likely to visit India soon.Indian govt sources had then denied reports that India had sought a waiver, saying it will approach UNSC to lift the travel ban only after the dates for his visit are finalised. This would have been the first visit by a Taliban leader to India, as India’s ties with the regime in Kabul improve on the back of considerable humanitarian aid that India is providing Kabul. A proposed visit by Muttaqi to Pakistan was earlier cancelled after the Council denied him waiver from travel ban.EAM S Jaishankar spoke to Muttaqi last week and condoled the loss of lives in the recent earthquake, while also announcing India’s decision to send relief material. Looking to build upon improvement in the relationship, foreign secretary Vikram Misri had met Muttaqi in Dubai in Jan and conveyed India’s readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of Afghan people.This was followed by the first political contact between the two sides as Jaishankar spoke to Muttaqi in May. TNN