KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in a meeting with Indian special envoy Anand Prakash in Kabul on Sunday called on India to resume issuing visas for Afghan traders, students, and patients, according to a Taliban statement.
Prakash, who is also head of the Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan division at India’s External Affairs Ministry, met with Muttaqi, according to a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Muttaqi emphasized the need to expand diplomatic and economic relations between the two sides, highlighting new opportunities for investment in Afghanistan. He urged Indian investors to take advantage of emerging projects and encouraged both countries to facilitate travel by restoring normal visa issuance procedures, especially for businesspeople, patients, and students.
The two sides also discussed bilateral political ties, trade, transit issues, and recent regional political developments, according to the Taliban statement.
In response, Prakash reportedly said that relations with Afghanistan remain important for India and expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would expand across multiple sectors. He also reiterated India’s willingness to continue humanitarian and development assistance, including the revival of some infrastructure projects that had been paused after the Taliban’s return to power.
India has approached its engagement with the Taliban cautiously. While it maintains a diplomatic presence through a technical mission in Kabul, New Delhi has not formally reopened its embassy nor officially recognized the Taliban administration.
