India Seeks UN Approval for Muttaqi’s Visit
India has asked the UN Security Council to grant permission for Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, to visit New Delhi.
Following reports that Muttaqi’s planned visit to India had been canceled, Indian media outlets, citing sources, reported that New Delhi had formally requested the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee to grant a travel exemption for the Afghan foreign minister.
According to these sources, India has officially invited Amir Khan Muttaqi to visit later this week and is now awaiting the Security Council’s decision.
One part of the report states: “A source said New Delhi has completed all logistical and diplomatic arrangements for the Afghan foreign minister’s visit. We are now waiting for the decision of the UN Security Council’s travel committee. Once the decision is received, the exact date of the visit will be finalized.”
A senior official in Kabul also confirmed that the invitation from India has been received, and that the minister is scheduled to travel to India at the end of this week, provided the travel exemption is granted.
Political analyst Moeen Gul Chamakni commented: “It is natural that the UN Security Council is influenced by major powers. We have not accepted some of their demands, and that is why they are putting pressure on us. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan should accept those demands that are in the interest of the Afghan people, otherwise these pressures will only increase.”
According to the report, sources in the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that India had extended an invitation to Muttaqi, adding that he is awaiting the issuance of a travel exemption by the Security Council.
Earlier, the acting foreign minister had announced he would travel to Islamabad at the beginning of the current month, but the trip did not take place for unknown reasons.
Political analyst Salim Paigir also weighed in: “The committee responsible for UN Security Council sanctions is currently chaired by Pakistan, and it is clear that they will not ease restrictions; rather, they want to push the Islamic Emirate into isolation. The United States, in one way or another, is also involved in this.”
Another political analyst, Janat Faheem Chakari, added: “The United Nations and those countries at the forefront of global power must create conditions for engagement with Afghanistan so that the country can build a strong government.”
According to reports, if the UN Security Council grants the travel exemption, Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit New Delhi at the end of this week. The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet commented on the matter.
