Behind Muttaqi’s India Visit Lies a Deeper Question

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to India is being termed significant on multiple fronts. It marks the Taliban government’s longest official foreign visit to date—signaling a possible diplomatic shift in the region. While Indian media hails it as a “historic opportunity,” behind the scenes, it coincides with a renewed Indian-backed propaganda drive aimed at shaping an anti-Pakistan narrative.

Just last week, India Today published a report alleging that the “Islamic State Khorasan” (ISIS-K) operates from within Pakistan. However, the report provided no evidence and directly contradicts the findings of the UN Security Council’s 35th Monitoring Report, which identifies ISIS-K’s strongholds in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, and Kabul provinces—home to roughly 2,000 active fighters.

This contradiction is not coincidental. Historically, India’s intelligence agency, RAW, has been accused of using select media outlets and fugitive militants to push disinformation campaigns. One example is former TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, involved in heinous attacks like the Army Public School massacre, who now amplifies India’s narrative from abroad. Disturbingly, Indian outlets continue to quote such controversial figures as “sources.”

This raises a critical question: Why is India expanding diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime at a time when Afghanistan itself is grappling with deep internal instability? If the stated goal is peace, why the parallel campaign of false allegations and anti-Pakistan rhetoric? The reality is that India’s outreach appears less about regional stability and more about reviving its long-standing strategy of isolating Pakistan on the global stage.

Pakistan’s position remains unambiguous: terrorism serves no nation’s interest. The country has sacrificed over 94,000 lives in its fight against terrorism through operations like Zarb-e-Azb, Radd-ul-Fasaad, and now Azm-e-Istehkam, which have significantly weakened militant networks. India’s continued attempts to scapegoat Pakistan only reflect a deliberate disregard for these facts.

The international community must recognize that in today’s world, information warfare has become a powerful modern weapon. Spreading false narratives, manipulating media, and platforming convicted terrorists undermines the moral and diplomatic integrity of any state involved.

Muttaqi’s visit may well shape future regional politics but if India uses it as a pretext to fuel propaganda against Pakistan, it will not serve peace but rather perpetuate instability. For genuine regional stability, Afghanistan must ensure its soil is not used as a haven for terrorist groups, while India must move away from disinformation and adopt a responsible diplomatic posture.

Falsehood may yield temporary gains but truth endures. And Pakistan’s stance stands firmly on truth, sacrifice, and principle.