UN Permits Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Visit India, Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations Security Council has granted a travel ban exemption to Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, enabling him to travel to India from October 9 to 16. This exemption falls under the purview of Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), which typically imposes travel restrictions on individuals linked to the Taliban. However, the resolution allows for exceptions for official duties or medical needs. This decision comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with a worsening humanitarian and social crisis under the Taliban’s governance. The government recently shut down telecom services across the country but later restored them. Concurrently, the nation experienced a total internet blackout, impacting 43 million people, a first under the current regime, which follows recent restrictions on women’s rights and activities.