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 Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced a draft framework on Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) for Indian airlines, aimed at addressing pilot and cabin crew fatigue with a scientific, data-driven approach. Released on September 4, 2025, the draft highlights a performance-based model that goes beyond traditional duty-hour and rest regulations.

Unlike prescriptive rules that only set maximum flight duty periods, FRMS focuses on understanding how fatigue develops in real-world conditions. It incorporates bio-mathematical fatigue models, sleep and activity tracking, self-reporting by crew, and analysis of safety-event data. The DGCA clarified that FRMS will remain optional, allowing airlines to either continue with existing Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) or adopt FRMS if they can prove its effectiveness through data and safety audits.

For airlines choosing to implement FRMS, a comprehensive policy approved by senior management will be mandatory. This policy must cover scheduling practices, fatigue reporting systems, corrective measures, and training. Carriers will be required to demonstrate to the DGCA that their systems meet defined safety performance targets through audits, oversight reviews, and regular data submissions. If successful, operators may receive flexibility in rostering beyond current FDTL limits, provided safety is not compromised.

The framework also shifts responsibility to both crew and operators. Pilots and cabin crew are expected to monitor their rest, maintain sleep logs, and report fatigue, while airlines must create a supportive environment where fatigue reporting is encouraged without penalties. The regulator emphasised that effective FRMS requires trust and collaboration between management and staff.

The move comes amid rising global concern over fatigue as a major flight safety risk. India has witnessed growing debate on this issue, with reports of extended duty hours and insufficient rest periods despite revised FDTL regulations. Aviation experts point out that a pilot can still suffer fatigue even within legal duty limits due to irregular hours, commuting time, and disrupted sleep cycles.

The draft aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines but has been tailored for Indian conditions. DGCA has invited feedback from airlines, pilot associations, and the public until September 15, after which the framework will be finalized. Once adopted, FRMS could provide Indian aviation with a modern, flexible, and science-based system to safeguard both crew wellbeing and passenger safety.