The first Taliban-appointed diplomat to be posted to India since the group returned to power in 2021 has arrived in Delhi to take charge of the Afghan embassy. Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, a senior Taliban member, has assumed the role of Charge d’Affaires at the mission on Shantipath, according to reports.
Mr Noor, who previously served as director general of the first political department at Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, reached India earlier this week. He was part of the delegation accompanying Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during a week-long visit to India in October 2025, the first such trip by a Taliban leader since 2021.
India does not officially recognise the Taliban government but has pursued limited engagement, including humanitarian aid and diplomatic contacts. The Afghan embassy in Delhi has continued functioning under interim arrangements. India has permitted Taliban envoys to staff consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad. After Mr Muttaqi’s visit, India announced it would reopen its embassy in Kabul, which closed in 2021.
The arrival has caused uncertainty among embassy staff appointed under the previous government. Some fear dismissal or pressure to return to Afghanistan, where they worry about reprisals. Officials say existing employees will continue for now, and the former Afghan republic’s flag will remain, but arrangements may be reviewed once Mr Noor formally takes control.
Mr Muttaqi’s visit required special UN Security Council approval due to sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, imposed in 2001. Western diplomats cite the Taliban’s misogynistic policies—barring women from secondary education, most workplaces, and public life—as the main obstacle to recognition. During the October visit, female journalists were barred from a press conference by Mr Muttaqi.
