By Shushant VC Parashar

When Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived in Delhi this week, the visit attracted little media attention. However, beneath the understated diplomacy and courteous handshakes, a significant development was taking place. For the first time since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, India has welcomed a senior Taliban leader publicly. This move wasn’t driven by friendship but by strategic considerations. The geopolitical environment around Afghanistan has changed, and India recognizes that isolation is no longer viable if it wants to safeguard its interests.

India had long kept its distance from the Taliban, focusing on supporting Afghanistan’s democratic institutions—such as roads, hospitals, and schools—while avoiding direct deal

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