 "Visas for Afghan students, patients: What Taliban wants from India")
The Taliban have called on India to issue visas to Afghan businessmen, patients and students. The request was raised during the meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday (January 8), the first high-level talks since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021.
Assuring New Delhi that Afghanistan did not “pose a threat” to any nation, the Taliban regime urged India to raise the level of diplomatic relations. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement did not mention the visa issue, only noting that Foreign Secretary Misri “conveyed India’s readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people”.
Let’s take a closer look.
Taliban’s demands from India
The Taliban has asked India to ease the visa rules for Afghan businessmen, patients and students.
In a series of posts on X, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesperson for the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry, said the request was made by acting Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi to Misri in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement after the talks, “Assuring the Indian delegation that Afghanistan does not pose a threat to any nation, FM Muttaqi expressed hope for raising the level of diplomatic relations, and easing the visa regime for Afghan businessmen, patients and students.”
Hafiz Zia Ahmad claimed that the “two sides agreed to facilitate visa and trade” during the meeting. But visa was not mentioned in the MEA statement.
Calling India a “significant regional and economic partner”, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said the two sides discussed expanding their ties and enhancing trade through Chabahar Port in Iran.
“In line with Afghanistan’s balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner,” the statement said.
After the Dubai meeting, the MEA said that India would consider engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and providing “material support” to the country.
“In response to the request from the Afghan side, India will provide further material support in the first instance to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees,” it said.
Why visa is a complex issue
The granting of visas to Afghans is a complicated issue for India due to several factors. New Delhi, like other foreign governments, does not officially recognise the Taliban administration.
As per an Indian Express report, there are also security concerns flagged by Indian security and intelligence agencies regarding Afghan visa seekers. Currently, India also does not have a functional visa section at the Indian embassy in Kabul or operational consulates in Afghanistan.
Foreign Secy @VikramMisri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai today.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2025
Both sides discussed 🇮🇳's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region. India reiterated its commitment to… pic.twitter.com/a3UyuIqkAG
The Taliban delegation has tried to alleviate India’s security concerns, assuring there would be proper vetting of those getting visas from Afghanistan to travel to India, sources told the newspaper.
After the fall of the Ashraf Ghani-led Afghan government and the capture of Kabul by the Taliban in August 2021, the Indian government has been strict in issuing visas to Afghans.
India’s embassy in Kabul is presently run by a small team of “technical experts”, who ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance and stay in touch with the Taliban regime.
If India decides to grant visas to Afghans, it would need to increase manpower at the embassy.
Why Taliban has turned to India
Afghanistan’s healthcare system is in crisis under the Taliban. Last February, Human Rights Watch said in its report that the public health system in the Asian country was hit hard after a sharp fall in foreign aid.
“Women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the healthcare crisis, particularly because of Taliban abuses,” the New York-based watchdog’s report said.
Now, the Taliban wants India to allow Afghans to travel for medical treatment.
After the Taliban takeover, the Indian government has allowed some Afghans to come for medical treatment but the numbers have sharply reduced since August 2021.
India has continued humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban, sending shipments of wheat, medicines, Covid-19 vaccines, and winter clothing.
The Taliban and India’s high-level meeting comes at a time when ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have frayed. Islamabad accuses the Pakistan Taliban group of using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan, a charge rejected by Kabul.
The talks between India and the Taliban are likely to ruffle feathers in Pakistan.
With inputs from agencies
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