Kabul: An explosion was reported in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul, late Thursday night, according to Dawn.
The blast occurred near Abdul Haq Square, where a Land Cruiser vehicle was reportedly struck. Afghan news outlet Tolo News quoted local residents as saying that authorities closed the Abdul Haq intersection following the incident, resulting in heavy traffic congestion in the area.
In a post on X, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the explosion but urged calm, saying, “The sound of an explosion was heard in the city of Kabul. However, no one should worry. It is all well and good. The investigation is underway, and no reports of damage have been received so far.”
The incident coincided with the visit of Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a week-long official visit.
Announcing his arrival, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, “We look forward to engaging discussions with him on bilateral relations and regional issues.”
Muttaqi’s October 9–16 visit marks the first high-level delegation from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Tolo News quoted Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, as saying that Muttaqi is expected to meet his Indian counterpart and other senior officials to discuss a range of issues, including “expanding relations between Kabul and New Delhi.”
Although India has not formally recognized the Taliban regime, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal had earlier confirmed on October 3 that New Delhi continues to engage with the interim Afghan administration, focusing on diplomatic dialogue and humanitarian aid—particularly after the recent earthquake in Afghanistan.
Previously, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Muttaqi over the phone in May, while Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met him in Dubai earlier this year.
The United Nations Security Council has granted a temporary travel exemption to Muttaqi, allowing his stay in India from October 9 to 16.
Muttaqi’s earlier visit, planned for last month, was postponed after he failed to secure a visa waiver. His current trip marks a renewed diplomatic outreach by the Taliban government as it seeks to strengthen ties with regional powers.
Before arriving in India, Muttaqi attended the 7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan on October 7, which gathered representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
In a joint statement, participants supported “the active integration of Afghanistan into the system of regional connectivity” to boost its role in cross-border trade and infrastructure development.
