India Shares Table With Taliban For Future Safety
The Indian ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal has finally met the Taliban leader, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai. Surprisingly, the leader has been exposed to Indian military training in the 1970s. Finally, India has accepted the fact that indeed Afghanistan would be run by the Taliban, who requested a formal meeting with India.
The Taliban definitely want a seat at the table, while they met and reassured India of their civil cooperation. They have promised a safe return of Indian nationals, give a safe passage for Afghan nationals wishing to come to India, and also prevent Pakistan-based terror groups from carrying out anti-India activities using Afghan territory.
Stanekzai might have a soft corner for India after all. He is the head of the Taliban’s political office, who has been a jawan that trained at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun between 1979 and 1982.
The cordial talks come 24 hours from the time the last contingent of US soldiers left Afghanistan. Taliban could be seen on social media waving their guns in the air celebrating the liberation of their souls from an American connect.
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Political analysts believe that while India has spoken to one of the most powerful in the Taliban circuit of leaders Stanekzai, the legitimacy of their ownership has not been proven.
The Taliban reportedly sees India as an important country and wants to have better trade, political and cultural ties with it. As Pakistan has favored the Taliban in the past, there is fear that this favor might be returned by pulling India into its circle of influence.
Stanekzai is known to be a sound negotiator owing to his past experiences of dealing with the Clinton presidency and being Afghanistan’s deputy foreign minister.
On its part, India’s strategy goes along with that of other like-minded countries. The Centre believes that it is important to remain engaged with Afghanistan to ensure the Taliban government in Kabul is inclusive and one which protects women, minorities and children.
