Muttaqis Visit Marks Indias Pragmatic Shift

Visit underscores Indias delicate balancing act between engaging Kabul and avoiding formal recognition of Taliban rule, writes Manoj Menon The decision to host the Talibans acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in New Delhi this week highlights a calculated shift in Indias approach to Afghanistan. Although India does not officially recognise the Taliban regime, the visit granted under a temporary UN exemption from international travel restrictions signals a willingness by New Delhi to engage the authorities in Kabul more directly. Muttaqi, who is expected to arrive on Thursday for a week-long stay, will meet Indias External Affairs Minister