KABUL–DELHI: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has arrived in New Delhi, triggering a diplomatic dilemma in India even before his official meetings begin.
The visit has already drawn attention due to a sensitive Taliban flag dilemma, highlighting India’s delicate balancing act in engaging with the Taliban-led government.
According to Indian media, New Delhi officials are grappling with protocol issues — whether or not to display the Taliban flag alongside India’s tricolor during meetings and official photo sessions.
India does not formally recognize the Taliban government, and therefore, does not grant official status to its white flag bearing the Islamic Shahada.
The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi continues to fly the tricolor of the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, led by ousted President Ashraf Ghani. In previous informal meetings between Indian and Taliban officials — including one in Dubai earlier this year — both sides avoided displaying any flag to sidestep diplomatic tension.
However, with high-profile meetings now set in Delhi, the flag issue has resurfaced as a delicate diplomatic tightrope for Indian authorities.
Earlier discussions, including those in Dubai, saw the Taliban delegation using their flag while Indian officials avoided showing any national symbol in the background. Now, with talks taking place on Indian soil, the flag dilemma has become a fresh diplomatic challenge for New Delhi.
This visit marks one of the highest-profile engagements by a senior Taliban official in India since the group returned to power in 2021. Analysts suggest that how India handles this Taliban flag dilemma could influence future diplomatic interactions and regional relations.