Observers note that the visit reflects India’s growing effort to open communication channels with the Taliban administration in Kabul. Under diplomatic norms, the visiting leader’s national flag is displayed alongside India’s tricolour during bilateral meetings and official photographs. But since India has not recognised Taliban rule, the new Taliban flag cannot be used in such settings. The NDTV report said that during earlier meetings between Indian officials and Muttaqi, the Taliban flag appeared in the background on Kabul’s side. Earlier, after Foreign Secretary Misri’s meeting with Muttaqi in January, the Taliban government described India as an “important regional and economic power”, it added.
