Pakistan Blocks Taliban FM Planned Trip to India

DID Press: Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban caretaker government, canceled his planned visit to India on August 26 after failing to secure a UN Security Council sanctions exemption. Informed sources suggest that Pakistan, as chair of the 1988 Committee, likely played a role in blocking the exemption.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Islamabad may have influenced the decision to withhold the waiver.

Meanwhile, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefing about reports of Muttaqi’s planned visit to India that “As you are aware, we have longstanding ties with the people of Afghanistan. India continues to support the aspirations and developmental needs of the Afghan people. We continue to have engagements with Afghan authorities. If there is an update on this account, we will share it with you.”

The 1988 Committee, which includes all 15 Security Council members, can block an exemption if even a single member opposes it.

Had the trip gone ahead, Muttaqi would have been the first Taliban caretaker government minister to visit India since the group returned to power in Afghanistan.