Afghan Taliban foreign minister Muttaqi arrives in India amid diplomatic flag dilemma

During his visit, cleared after the UN Security Council granted him a travel waiver, meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are expected, according to an NDTV report.

The visit comes at a significant time for regional diplomacy as New Delhi cautiously seeks to engage with the Taliban government while maintaining its stance of non-recognition.

Observers in Islamabad and other regional capitals are expected to watch the visit closely.

The high-level visit has triggered a symbolic but sensitive challenge for Indian officials — the issue of flags at official meetings, according to the NDTV report.

Diplomatic protocol requires the display of both nations’ flags during bilateral engagements.

However, India does not recognise the Taliban regime and therefore does not officially acknowledge the Taliban’s white flag featuring the Islamic declaration of faith.

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi continues to fly the flag of the former Republic of Afghanistan, which represented the ousted Ashraf Ghani government.

During earlier meetings abroad, such as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s talks with Muttaqi in Dubai, officials avoided the issue altogether by omitting both flags.

But since this meeting takes place in Delhi, officials are reportedly working to navigate the situation without breaching protocol or signalling recognition of the Taliban government.

India and Afghanistan have shared historically close ties, though New Delhi closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

A limited mission was reopened in 2022 to facilitate trade, medical assistance, and humanitarian aid.

While India does not recognise the Taliban regime, it has cautiously re-engaged through backchannel talks and diplomatic exchanges.

Muttaqi’s visit follows his phone conversation with Jaishankar in May, following Operation Sindoor, when Kabul condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.

It also comes shortly after India joined Russia, China, and several other nations in opposing the establishment of foreign military infrastructure in Afghanistan’s Bagram by US President Donald Trump— a stance seen as an attempt to reinforce regional stability.

Earlier this year, the Taliban described India as an “important regional and economic power” after talks between Muttaqi and Foreign Secretary Misri, underscoring Kabul’s interest in deeper engagement.