In what is being seen as a signal to India, a member of the Taliban leadership in Qatar has said that India is “very important for this subcontinent” and that his group wants to continue Afghanistan’s “cultural”, “economic”, “political” and “trade ties” with India “like in the past”.
This overture was made by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, deputy head of Taliban’s office in Doha, in a carefully scripted statement that he read out in Pashto in a 46-minute video message broadcast Saturday on the group’s social media platforms and Afghanistan’s Milli Television.
In a nearly 46-minute video posted on the Taliban’s social media platforms on Saturday, Stanekzai spoke extensively in Pashto on the end of the war in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s plans for forming an Islamic administration based on Shariah. He also spoke about the Taliban’s views on relations with key countries in the region, including India, Pakistan, China and Russia.
Since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government on August 15, the group’s spokesmen Suhail Shaheen and Zabiullah Mujahid have spoken to the Pakistani media about the group’s views on relations with India. However, Stanekzai is the first senior leader to make a statement on relations with other countries.
“India is very important for this subcontinent. We want to continue our cultural, economic and trade ties with India like in the past,” Stanekzai said.
This is the latest in a series of remarks by Taliban leaders purporting to show an outreach to India after the government recalled all diplomatic personnel from Kabul fearing instability in the country following the Taliban takeover. The messaging indicates a desire to gain acceptance at a time most countries, including India, have highlighted concerns relating to terrorism.
Following what it calls a “wait and watch” approach, India has been careful not to directly name Taliban in its statements at UNSC and also UNHRC while expressing concerns about the possibility of Afghanistan being used by groups like LeT and JeM to target countries in the region. Much would depend on the Taliban’s capacity and willingness to prevent Pakistan-based groups from using Afghanistan as a training and recruiting ground against India.
While India is unlikely to, as it has said, jump the gun on officially recognising the Taliban, sources said engagement with Taliban is not ruled out. Like the US and others, the government believes engagement is important for ensuring a government in Kabul that is inclusive and representative. Under its watch, the UNSC in a statement on August 16, a day after the Taliban takeover, rolled back its “declaration” that it won’t accept restoration of an Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. Last week, on Friday, the UNSC dropped a mention of Taliban while calling upon all groups to not support terrorist activities.
