If the visit had gone ahead, Muttaqi would have been the first minister from the Taliban setup in Kabul to travel to India since the group seized power in Afghanistan after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in August 2021. All Taliban leaders sanctioned by the UN Security Council have to secure a waiver for foreign travel.

Pakistan currently heads the 1988 sanctions committee of the UN Security Council that oversees the implementation of the travel ban, an assets freeze, and an arms embargo related to sanctioned Taliban leaders, and the people cited above said on condition of anonymity that Islamabad is believed to have been behind the move to deny Muttaqi a waiver.

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The 1988 sanctions committee includes all 15 members of the Security Council, and a waiver can be blocked if even one member objects to it. Muttaqi’s planned visit to Pakistan last month was called off after the US reportedly objected to a waiver.

When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked at a weekly media briefing about reports of Muttaqi’s planned visit to India, he replied: “As you are aware, we have longstanding ties with the people of Afghanistan. India continues to support the aspirations and developmental needs of the Afghan people.

“We continue to have engagements with Afghan authorities. If there is an update on this account, we will share it with you.”

The people said a waiver for Muttaqi was sought from the 1988 sanctions committee but it wasn’t granted. The planned visit to India was being seen as a follow-up to a phone call between Muttaqi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar in May – the first such interaction between the two sides.

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The phone conversation also built on a meeting between Muttaqi and foreign secretary Vikram Misri in Dubai in January and came against the backdrop of tensions between India and Pakistan. The Taliban had also condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

India has quietly built up its contacts with the Taliban leadership in recent years, mainly to protect regional interests at a time when China has sought to expand its footprint in Afghanistan, and Muttaqi and Jaishankar had spoken on the phone again on September 1 after New Delhi dispatched relief materials to help the victims of a devastating earthquake that struck the Afghan province of Kunar.

The people said that Muttaqi’s visit had only been called off, and it is expected to go ahead in the coming months once the issue of the waiver on the travel ban is addressed.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation organised the North East Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation 2025 and the 3rd North East Aviation Summit in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The event brought together key leaders including Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, as Chief Guest, and Shri Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, as Guest of Honour. Senior ministers from Mizoram, Sikkim, and Assam also participated, reflecting the collective importance given to aviation-led development in the region.

In his inaugural address, Shri Pema Khandu highlighted the critical role of transportation connectivity in driving growth in the North East. He noted that in the last decade, the region has witnessed unprecedented progress in aviation infrastructure. With schemes like UDAN, long-cherished dreams of Arunachal Pradesh residents to have their own airports have been fulfilled, transforming the socio-economic landscape of the state and the broader region.

Union Minister Shri Rammohan Naidu stressed the importance of strengthening Centre-State-Industry partnerships to accelerate aviation growth. He emphasised that enhanced connectivity is vital for border access, tourism promotion, cargo movement, and industrial development. The Minister urged states to expand tourism infrastructure and skilling programs to complement aviation growth, noting that employment opportunities for youth must be prioritised alongside infrastructure expansion.

The Minister shared that operational airports in the region have increased from nine in 2014 to sixteen at present. Aircraft movements have nearly doubled, while domestic passenger traffic has tripled. To support further expansion, the Centre will offer four pre-feasibility studies annually for new Greenfield airports at no cost, enabling states to plan their aviation projects without financial constraints.

During discussions, state leaders highlighted how aviation connectivity will strengthen tourism, trade, healthcare, emergency services, and entrepreneurship. They underscored the role of new airports, heliports, and cargo facilities in reducing travel time, boosting exports of local products, and attracting investments. Industry players, including airlines, OEMs, MROs, cargo operators, and drone companies, engaged in dialogues to identify investment opportunities and address implementation challenges.

Looking ahead, the Ministry announced its flagship event Wings India 2026, scheduled from 28–31 January 2026. Organized with AAI and FICCI, the event will serve as a global platform to showcase India’s aviation growth story, promote policy dialogue, and foster international partnerships. With these initiatives, civil aviation is set to become a transformative enabler of Viksit Bharat @2047, giving new wings to North East India’s aspirations.

The recent GST reforms announced at the 56th GST Council meeting are set to reshape the travel and tourism industry in India, with travel agents standing at the center of both opportunities and challenges.

For hotel accommodation priced up to Rs 7,500 per day, the GST rate has been reduced from 12 percent with input tax credit (ITC) to 5 percent without ITC. While this move makes travel more affordable for consumers, it poses challenges for travel agents who lose ITC benefits, potentially compressing margins.

Non-economy class air travel has seen its GST rate increased from 12 percent with ITC to 18 percent with ITC. This change will result in higher fares for business travelers, yet travel agencies serving corporate clients can still claim full ITC, ensuring better cash flow management.

One of the most significant developments is the amendment of Section 13(8)(b) of the IGST Act, which now allows services provided by travel agents and tour operators to foreign clients to qualify as exports. This recognition not only enables agencies to avail zero-rated benefits under GST, including refunds of input tax credit, but also strengthens their ability to compete globally.

The motor vehicle transport sector has also undergone changes. The GST rate remains at 5% without ITC, but for those opting for full ITC, the rate has risen from 12 to 18 percent. This provides flexibility but also calls for agencies to carefully evaluate their business models.

Commenting on the reforms, Jyoti Mayal, chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council, said: “The latest GST reforms bring both relief and responsibility for travel agents. On one hand, reduced hotel tariffs will stimulate demand in the domestic tourism segment. On the other, the removal of ITC in this category will require agents to realign their pricing strategies. Most importantly, the recognition of intermediary services as exports is a game-changer, unlocking opportunities for Indian travel businesses to expand their global footprint while enjoying the benefits of zero-rated taxation. luxury travel is as important and needs to be promoted more as the returns are higher spends are higher it is exclusive travel and india needs to focus in the same for inbound and be more competitive than the neighbouring countries”As the sector adapts to these changes, the emphasis will be on balancing consumer affordability with sustainable business models, ensuring that Indian travel agents remain competitive both domestically and internationally.