UN Allows Afghan Foreign Minister to Travel to India as Afghanistan Struggles with Crisis

The United Nations Security Council has approved a travel ban exemption for Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, enabling his visit to India from October 9 to October 16. This exemption is in accordance with Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), which provides for exceptions to travel restrictions for official engagements. This announcement aligns with the escalating humanitarian and social crisis in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The government temporarily suspended telecom services across the country, resulting in a complete internet blackout. This is the first such instance since the Taliban seized power, affecting 43 million citizens. The internet shutdown restricts access to online educational resources, particularly for women and girls, who have previously relied on these resources.