Taliban FM’s Hindi Warning in New Delhi: What Amir Khan Muttaqi Told Pakistan, the US, and India

A rare moment unfolded in New Delhi. Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, addressed sensitive regional issues, issued a blunt warning to Pakistan in Hindi, and sent a clear signal to Washington. The backdrop was a high-level meeting with India’s external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, the first of its kind since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The comments stirred debate across South Asia, especially after reports of Pakistani air strikes in Afghan border areas.

In this detailed breakdown, you’ll find what was said, why it matters, and how it could shape the India-Afghanistan-Pakistan triangle in the coming months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIYACY3Wf8E

The Setting: New Delhi Hosts the Taliban’s Top Diplomat

Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India marked a notable diplomatic moment. It came during an official meeting with S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where both sides addressed the path forward for ties between India and Afghanistan. Multiple Indian outlets confirmed the meeting and its significance for regional diplomacy.

• For context on the meeting and key takeaways, see this coverage: Taliban foreign minister Muttaqi meets Jaishankar.

• For a broader view on the visit timeline and scope, read: Afghan FM Muttaqi meets Jaishankar; says 'India has...'.

India’s Signal: “Contiguous Neighbor” and an Embassy Upgrade

Two India-centric messages stood out.

• First, New Delhi indicated that it would move to upgrade its current mission in Kabul to a full embassy. That step, while careful, suggests a practical approach to on-ground needs in Afghanistan and the protection of ongoing aid projects. Detailed reporting on the shift is available here: India to upgrade its Kabul mission to full embassy status.

• Second, during the engagement, Afghanistan was described as a “contiguous neighbor.” This term has geographic and political weight. India and Afghanistan do not have a functional land boundary today, though historically, the narrow Wakhan Corridor connected Afghanistan to the northern edge of the region India claims as its own. The phrase landed strongly in the room because, in strategic terms, it signals how India views the map and the stakes.

Together, these moves frame a sober, interest-based approach: maintain people-to-people and development ties, keep channels open, and signal strategic clarity without theatrics.

The Trigger: Reports of Pakistani Air Strikes on Afghan Border Areas

Right before and during this visit, Pakistan was reported to have carried out strikes in areas near the Afghanistan border. When asked about these attacks, Amir Khan Muttaqi did not hedge. He said he had heard of strikes in remote, border regions and called them a “big mistake.” He condemned the action and warned that such force does not resolve disputes.

The tone hardened as he addressed Pakistan directly in Hindi. He urged Islamabad to check the record of previous foreign powers that tried to bend Afghanistan with pressure or force.

The Hindi Message to Pakistan: “History Is the Teacher”

Muttaqi’s answer carried a simple, sharp theme: do not test Afghan resolve. He pointed to the examples of the British, the Soviet Union, the United States, and NATO. His line was clear, Afghanistan resists occupation and rejects coercion. He urged Pakistan to learn from that history and avoid “playing games” with Afghan security.

Key points from that message:

• He called the reported strikes a “big mistake,” and said pressure cannot solve issues with Afghanistan.

• He emphasized that Afghanistan’s history shows force does not settle disputes there.

• He told Pakistan that those who tried to intimidate Afghanistan in the past failed, and that this should serve as a warning.

The choice to deliver this in Hindi, in New Delhi, was deliberate. It ensured the message landed in Pakistan and India at the same time, and it played well across Indian media audiences.

The Bagram Airbase Reference: A Firm Line on Foreign Troops

Muttaqi also spoke about foreign military presence in Afghanistan. He asserted that the Afghan people would not accept any foreign military on their soil. He framed it as a principle of sovereignty and national dignity. While he did not dwell on the past in detail, the mention of Bagram Airbase carried symbolism, given its history with US and NATO forces. The takeaway was unmistakable: Kabul’s stance is that no foreign army has a place in Afghanistan now.

He paired that with an open door for diplomacy. If countries want ties, he said, they should come through diplomatic channels and missions, not through force.

Why Pakistan Is on Edge

The immediate reason is the strikes themselves and the strong Afghan response. But there’s more at play.

• A senior Afghan official spoke in Hindi in India and called out Pakistan. That is unusual and public.

• He invoked a unified Afghan response to external pressure. For Islamabad, the optics are risky, because it raises the prospect of a tougher Afghan stance on border security and sovereignty debates.

• If India is upgrading its presence in Kabul, that could add another wrinkle for Pakistan. It signals more direct engagement between New Delhi and Kabul.

In short, Islamabad now faces louder Afghan pushback, a tighter Indian-Afghan dialogue, and wider scrutiny of its border actions.

What This Means for India-Afghanistan Relations

India has long invested in Afghan infrastructure, education, health, and humanitarian aid. Since 2021, engagement has been careful but steady. The meeting in New Delhi shows:

• India seeks stability next door and wants to protect its development work.

• New Delhi is willing to talk at a senior level while keeping its core concerns intact.

• Kabul wants formal diplomatic channels, economic ties, and international recognition of its sovereignty claims.

If the embassy moves ahead, expect more structured cooperation on trade, visas, scholarships, and on-ground aid. That could also help Indian projects that stalled after 2021 to resume at a better pace.

For more on the diplomatic context and the tenor of the meeting, see: Taliban foreign minister Muttaqi meets Jaishankar.

The Strategic Subtext: “Contiguous Neighbor” and the Map Question

Using “contiguous neighbor” was not a throwaway label. It echoes India’s long-standing position on territories under dispute to its northwest and the historical link between Afghanistan and the broader Himalayan region. Even if everyday maps do not show a working land border today, the phrase signals how New Delhi views the region’s legal geography.

That framing matters for three reasons:

• It underscores India’s stake in Afghan stability, not as a distant observer, but as a neighbor with direct interests.

• It sends a message to Islamabad that New Delhi is not stepping back from its claims or its neighborhood priorities.

• It reassures Kabul that India sees Afghanistan as part of its immediate strategic environment, which can translate into steadier engagement.

For reporting on India’s intent to upgrade its diplomatic presence, read: India to upgrade its Kabul mission to full embassy status.

Reading Muttaqi’s Tone: Firm on Sovereignty, Open to Diplomacy

His words described a simple rule set. Afghanistan rejects force on its soil, including cross-border strikes. It is open to formal ties through embassies and diplomatic missions. That gives other countries a clear choice, and it tries to draw a line under the era of foreign military presence.

Two notable lines from the remarks:

• Condemnation of strikes in remote border areas, labeled a “big mistake.”

• A reminder that Afghans have rejected foreign military forces and will continue to do so, paired with an invite to build ties through diplomacy.

That mix of firmness and conditional openness can shape how countries plan their engagement with Kabul.

For a fuller view on the visit’s arc and how Kabul pitched India as a friend, see: Afghan FM Muttaqi meets Jaishankar; says ‘India has…’.

Regional Implications: What to Watch Next

A few markers to track in the weeks ahead:

• Will India’s mission in Kabul expand, and how quickly will services scale up?

• Does Pakistan dial down cross-border actions after the public warning, or does it double down?

• Do other regional players, like Iran and Central Asian states, adjust their posture based on Kabul’s insistence on no foreign troops and respect for sovereignty?

• How does Kabul manage its own internal security challenges while holding firm on the border issue?

If quiet backchannel talks increase, you may see less public heat and more practical steps on trade routes, transit, and border management.

Key Takeaways

• Amir Khan Muttaqi used Hindi in New Delhi to warn Pakistan after reported strikes near the border. He called the action a mistake and said force cannot solve disputes with Afghanistan.

• He said Afghans would not accept foreign military forces on their soil, and urged countries to engage through diplomatic missions.

• India signaled a reset of its presence in Kabul, moving to upgrade its mission to a full embassy, and framed Afghanistan as a “contiguous neighbor,” which carries strategic weight.

• Pakistan now faces sharper Afghan pushback and the prospect of deeper India-Afghanistan engagement.

Conclusion

A speech can change the temperature of a region when it hits the right notes. In New Delhi, Amir Khan Muttaqi’s Hindi remarks did just that. He condemned reported strikes, warned Pakistan through history’s lens, and set a clear boundary on foreign troops in Afghanistan. India, meanwhile, is edging back to a fuller diplomatic presence. Watch for how Islamabad reacts, how quickly New Delhi’s Kabul mission grows, and whether steady diplomacy wins out over force. What part of this triangle do you think will shift first?