New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- India does not formally recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Yet, for the first time, a senior Taliban member, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, will soon visit India as a guest of the Indian government. India even sought a special waiver for his visit from the United Nations.

Most members of the Taliban were sanctioned as terrorists by the UN Security Council. Under Security Council resolution 1988, most Taliban-linked individuals face a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo for whom exceptions can be granted, by consensus, by all 15 UNSC members. Pakistan, a non-permanent UNSC member, currently chairs the UN's 1988 Sanctions Committee.

While there would be several strategic reasons for India to invit...