After India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan held their first high-level meeting, the Taliban announced that they had urged Delhi to issue visas to Afghan businessmen, patients and students.

Deputy Spokesperson for the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, said the request for issue of visas was conveyed by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri when they met in Dubai on Wednesday.

According to Hafiz Zia Ahmad, the “two sides agreed to facilitate visa and trade” when they met in Dubai. The Indian government’s statement on the meeting did not mention this. It only said Foreign Secretary Misri "conveyed India’s readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people."

The Indian Express reports that Muttaqi and the Taliban delegation assured the Indian side that there would be no threat from those who would travel to India and that they would ensure the vetting of those being granted visas. While the Taliban are aware of the Indian hesitation in granting official legitimacy to their regime, they want to move forward on "pragmatic" and "workable" solutions.

India's visa policy for Afghan nationals remains strict, following the Taliban's 2021 takeover. The Indian government does not officially recognise the Taliban regime, and security agencies have flagged concerns over visa seekers from Afghanistan. Additionally, the lack of a functional visa section at the Indian embassy in Kabul further complicates matters. While some Afghan nationals, especially students, medical patients, and businessmen have been granted limited visas, the Indian government is cautious due to political and security considerations. The Indian embassy in Kabul currently operates with a small team focused on humanitarian efforts.

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