Amidst the visit of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has reiterated his call for establishing strong diplomatic relations with the group. Owaisi argued that mere discussions are insufficient, and India must forge full diplomatic ties with Kabul to safeguard its security and strategic interests.
Recalling his 2016 parliamentary speech, Owaisi noted that he had then predicted the Taliban’s return and championed dialogue, a stance that drew criticism at the time. “I stood in Parliament in 2016 and said that the Taliban would come. Talk to them. Many media people and BJP members abused me for talking about the Taliban,” he stated.
Owaisi highlighted the current situation, saying, “Their Foreign Minister is here, and the Pakistan Air Force bombed that place. Do you see how it’s going? We should establish a full diplomatic relationship. Our presence there is crucial for the country’s security and geopolitical interests. We should have a full-fledged diplomatic relationship.”
He also pointed to the strategic importance of the Chabahar Port in Iran as a potential route to Afghanistan, which could enhance India’s geopolitical standing against China and Pakistan.
This advocacy comes as India’s policy towards Afghanistan faces intense scrutiny.
Afghanistan Minister’s India Visit
Taliban minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is in India for a six-day visit, which began on Friday. On Saturday, he visited Deoband in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district. The Afghan foreign minister is scheduled to visit Agra and the Taj Mahal on Sunday.
This visit is particularly significant given the current strained relations between India and Pakistan concerning issues like cross-border terrorism. It marks the first visit to India by a senior Taliban minister since the group regained control of Kabul four years ago.