Diplomatic tensions surfaced during a rare telephonic conversation between Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, with the Taliban expressing deep frustration over India’s restrictive visa policies and continued detention of Afghan nationals.
According to the Taliban’s official account of the call, Muttaqi raised multiple grievances, criticizing India for its failure to facilitate medical visas for Afghan patients and for denying travel access to Afghan businessmen, whose livelihoods have been severely impacted. “India is a very important country with historic ties to Afghanistan,” Muttaqi said, “but current restrictions are causing immense suffering for our people.”
In addition to visa concerns, the Taliban Foreign Minister demanded the release of Afghan prisoners currently held in Indian jails. The Taliban emphasized that these detainees have been languishing without proper legal recourse or consular assistance and urged the Indian government to resolve the matter on humanitarian grounds.
Despite the direct nature of the requests, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs remained silent that underscores New Delhi’s cautious approach toward engaging with the Taliban regime.
While the Taliban seeks recognition and cooperation, Indian officials remain wary — particularly due to concerns over security and migration. Past patterns reveal that a number of Afghan nationals, once granted visas, have overstayed or sought asylum in India, a factor believed to be influencing New Delhi’s strict visa scrutiny. Though not explicitly stated, this remains a key reason for India’s guarded posture.
