KABUL, Afghanistan — The UN Security Council has approved a new travel ban exemption for Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, to visit Doha, Qatar, for talks amid ongoing discussions about a proposed UN political plan for Afghanistan.
In a statement issued Friday, the Security Council’s 1988 Sanctions Committee said it had authorized Muttaqi’s travel from April 27 to May 4, 2025, to meet with Qatari government officials. Local media had earlier reported that Muttaqi was expected to depart for Doha on Sunday.
The visit comes as the United Nations continues consultations with various stakeholders regarding a draft plan for Afghanistan’s political future. According to sources who spoke to Amu TV, the plan revolves around three key demands from the Taliban and three from the international community, although details remain under discussion.
The travel exemption is the latest in a series of UN-approved exemptions for senior Taliban leaders, despite international sanctions that otherwise restrict their movement.
Muttaqi was added to the UN sanctions list in 2001 for his role as the Taliban’s education minister, during which he oversaw policies that barred girls from attending school.
Other travel exemptions for Taliban
On March 21, Muttaqi was granted permission to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah from March 23 to April 10.
On March 7, he traveled to Oman for bilateral meetings with Omani officials.
Abdul-Haq Wassiq, another senior Taliban figure, was authorized to visit Saudi Arabia from March 11 to March 21.
In February, senior Taliban officials, including Abdul Ghani Baradar, attended negotiations in Uzbekistan.
Additional exemptions were granted for Taliban figures to travel to Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar earlier this year for diplomatic meetings, medical treatment, and religious pilgrimages.
The Security Council’s 1988 Sanctions Regime, established to monitor Taliban activities, imposes an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo on listed individuals. However, the committee can grant exemptions for limited purposes, such as diplomatic engagement or religious activities.
Muttaqi’s upcoming trip to Doha highlights the Taliban’s continued push for international legitimacy even as the regime faces sustained criticism for its human rights record, particularly the ongoing ban on girls’ education and widespread restrictions on women.
No further details about the specific meetings scheduled in Doha have been made public.
