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 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.

While applying for an international visa, certain factors such as fluency in English are often believed to play an important role. Recently, a Reddit post about a US tourist visa rejection went viral, sparking a debate online. The discussion mainly revolved around whether English fluency and having relatives in America actually influence visa approvals. Scroll down to know more. 

US Tourist Visa Rejection 

B2 Visa Delhi: Rejected, 214b
byu/Fun-Mind8782 inusvisascheduling

A Reddit user (@Fun-Mind8782) took this account to highlight an important matter. He shared that the US Consulate in New Delhi had denied his and his family’s B2 visa applications. The 36-year-old man, who works as the operations head of an IT company, said he applied for a US tourist visa together with his parents, who are both 70 years old.

The family was planning to travel to the US and had prepared for it beforehand. They had planned a two-week vacation around Christmas,  with stops in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. To avoid last-minute problems, they had already booked hotels and created an itinerary.

Talking about their US visa rejection the the user also mentioned his savings, that is ₹20 lakh in bank deposits and stocks. His parents also had savings of over ₹30 lakh. The post also mentioned that the family had previously travelled to many international locations like the UK, France, Switzerland, Dubai, and Singapore. According to the Redittor, he had all the necessary documents required for the visa approval. 

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Why Was The Visa Rejected?

During the visa process, the officer asked the applicant about the places they were planning to visit, to which the Reddit user gave a fluent answer. Next, the officer asked the applicant’s mother through a translator where they wanted to go in the US. She repeated the names of the cities as well. When asked if they had any relatives in the US, she mentioned a grand-niece but clarified that they would not visit her. 

The officer pointed out that the Redditor had said that his parents didn’t speak English, yet the mother spoke reasonably well. The applicant explained she was not fluent but could manage a few words. Lastly, the translator asked about trip sponsorship, and the applicant said they would fund the trip themselves, citing stable jobs, savings, and income from stocks. The user mentioned that the officer didn’t ask any questions related to jobs or previous travel and rejected their visa application. 

The visa rejection has stirred a debate online, with many users trying to understand the grounds for the rejection. What is your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comment section!

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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/maybefals (Representative Image)

First Published: September 05, 2025 7:30 PM