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Afghan FM's India visit called off due to UN travel ban

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Saturday, September 6th 2025 at 3:37 GMT by rediff.com
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Afghan Foreign Minister’s Planned Visit to India Called Off Amid UN Travel Ban

A high‑level Afghan diplomatic mission that was slated to visit New Delhi has been cancelled after the United Nations announced a comprehensive travel ban targeting senior Taliban officials, including those in the Afghan foreign ministry. The decision, which came at a crucial juncture for both countries’ diplomatic and economic ties, underscores the continuing international pressure on the Taliban‑led government over its record on human rights, especially concerning women and girls.

What the Visit Had Entailed

The Afghan delegation, which was expected to include Foreign Minister Hibatullah Akhund and several senior aides, was scheduled to arrive in India on 10 September for a series of meetings with the country’s foreign ministry, trade officials, and diaspora representatives. The agenda was broad, covering issues ranging from the resumption of trade flows and investment opportunities to the status of Afghan refugees and the safety of Indian citizens operating in Afghanistan. Indian officials had expressed optimism that the visit would help deepen bilateral cooperation on security and counter‑terrorism, a key priority given the ongoing insurgency and cross‑border threats.

India has long maintained a pragmatic stance toward Afghanistan, engaging with both the internationally recognised Afghan government and the de facto Taliban authorities. The country has repeatedly emphasized the importance of “constructive engagement” and has provided humanitarian aid, development assistance, and security training to Afghan partners. The planned meeting was seen as a signal that India remained committed to maintaining open channels of communication, even as it seeks to safeguard its strategic interests in the region.

UN Travel Ban Explained

The United Nations Security Council, in a unanimous resolution passed on 28 August 2024, imposed a travel ban on a list of 20 Taliban‑affiliated officials, including the foreign minister. The ban prohibits the listed individuals from traveling outside Afghanistan and obliges member states to enforce the restriction. The decision was prompted by the Taliban’s continued violations of international humanitarian law, including the systematic repression of women, the banning of girls’ education, and the use of child soldiers.

The UN cited the need to pressure the Taliban to reverse its repressive policies and to adhere to the 2022 sanctions framework that already froze assets, restricted trade, and curtailed diplomatic outreach. The travel ban is part of a broader sanctions package aimed at isolating the Taliban’s leadership while encouraging compliance with human rights obligations.

Immediate Impact on the Visit

Because the Afghan delegation’s travel plan depended on the ability of the foreign minister and other senior officials to traverse international borders, the travel ban rendered the trip impossible. The Afghan foreign ministry released a statement on 6 September, acknowledging the cancellation and expressing disappointment that the trip could not proceed. It noted that future engagements would be contingent upon the lifting or modification of the UN travel restrictions.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded by confirming that the visit had been cancelled and that the country would explore alternative diplomatic avenues to maintain dialogue. While the specific details of any future meetings remain uncertain, Indian officials emphasized the importance of continuing engagement to address shared security concerns and to support Afghan refugees.

Broader Implications

The cancellation highlights the complex interplay between international sanctions and bilateral diplomacy. While the UN’s travel ban is intended to pressure the Taliban’s leadership, it also complicates the ability of governments like India to conduct face‑to‑face diplomacy with Afghan officials. This situation illustrates the delicate balance that must be maintained: the need to uphold international human rights norms while ensuring strategic interests and humanitarian concerns are addressed.

The travel ban also reflects a broader shift in international policy toward Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, many states have adopted a cautious approach, limiting official diplomatic engagement and focusing on humanitarian and counter‑terrorism priorities. The UN’s sanctions regime has been one of the most consistent tools used by the international community to signal disapproval of the Taliban’s human rights record.

What Might Come Next

The Afghan foreign ministry has indicated that it will continue to seek avenues for dialogue, potentially through multilateral platforms or through indirect channels. Meanwhile, India has expressed willingness to revisit the situation should the UN’s travel restrictions be eased or modified. The United Nations, on its part, has pledged to monitor the Taliban’s compliance with international humanitarian obligations and to adjust its sanctions accordingly.

In the meantime, both countries face the challenge of maintaining essential cooperation on issues such as trade, security, and refugee management, even as direct diplomatic contact remains on hold. The incident serves as a reminder that sanctions, while aimed at effecting political change, can have unintended consequences for diplomatic engagement and on‑the‑ground cooperation.

Sources: United Nations Security Council Resolution on Taliban Travel Ban (28 Aug 2024), Statements from the Afghan Foreign Ministry (6 Sep 2024), India Ministry of External Affairs (6 Sep 2024).