India Must Give full support to Current legitimate Kabul Administration
India is welcome to continue its aid and reconstruction work in Afghanistan after a government with the Taliban comes to power. But New Delhi should remain neutral and not give the current Kabul administration any military support, says Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s Political Office Spokesman for International Media based in Qatar
In an interview, Suhail She been, who is Taliban’s Spokesman said that he was unaware of contacts between the Indian government and his group. Presently the international community is warily watching the Islamist militant group take control of large swathes of Afghanistan after the exit of US-led international forces. India is worried a takeover of Afghanistan by Pakistan backed Taliban will create problems for its security interests.
When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan between 1996-2001, terrorism in Kashmir saw a huge increase. New Delhi has long sought a government in Kabul that does not support Pakistan-based terrorist groups targeting Kashmir. To make Afghanistan economically independent, India has been developing the Chabahar port given that overland trade with landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia are hostage to the strains in the India-Pakistan relationship.
Now Taliban is having a talks in Doha but it is only a camouflage for their full fledged military onslaught on the Kabul Government. They do not wish any kind of power sharing. On one side there are reports of Taliban presenting a Peace Plan and the other side is their relentless military attack. Taliban simply put, plans to establish an Islamic Government in Kabul.
The Taliban Spokesperson has clearly said that to achieve their goals, they will keep talking and In parallel, our military approach is also used as needed. Fighting will stop only when they achieve their aim.
Taliban has also clarified and issued official statements, saying they will not pose threat to any diplomatic mission of any country. Talking about reconstruction of Afghanistan, the future Islamic government welcomes positive contribution of other countries in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. However, they have also added that India should remain neutral and should not support the current Kabul Administration with military hardware which are ultimately used against the Taliban and their destruction. This is not good for their image and Taliban’s perception of India.
India has been a development partner for Afghanistan— it has built roads, electricity lines and also the Salma dam. India supports the legitimate Government of Afghanistan. So India should neither abandon the current Afghan Current nor surrender its interests to any two bit threat. After all how come Taliban is claiming wins against the Afghan Army, unless it is being supported with military hardware and logistics by some countries.
It is also very clear that all those countries supporting Taliban cannot be having friendly intentions towards India. Tomorrow those very countries will encourage Taliban to cause trouble in Kashmir. Therefore India should give full support to Currently established Afghan Government.
Though at the same time, it can get in touch with Taliban and try its level best to bring a stop to current violence. Taliban must be encouraged to participate in the peace process and try to come to Power through elections only. India should be fully concerned with any anti India groups which gets trained and sheltered in Afghanistan if Taliban establishes a government in Kabul by force. Therefore Taliban and every once must be clearly told that India is ready to defend itself from such threats and prevention is the best cure.
Taliban is already talking about need of assistance of China and Pakistan. However they quickly add that “ we don’t want Afghanistan to become a ground of rivalries but rather we want it will be a ground of cooperation Insha’Allah.”
India needs to formulate its plan quickly and then act and act fast.
