The Indian government has chosen to maintain a studied silence, as Taliban leaders and spokesmen have offered divergent views on issues such as Kashmir that have traditionally been red flags in New Delhi’s foreign policy establishment.
In the context of a discreet reach of India by senior Taliban leaders ahead of the formation of a new dispensation in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen caused dismay by telling the BBC in an interview on Thursday that the Taliban intended to raise the voice of the Muslims of Kashmir. and India.
Shaheen’s statements were contrary to a statement by senior Taliban negotiator Anas Haqqani, also leader of the Haqqani Network terrorist group, that the Taliban have a policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, such as Kashmir, and hoped “positive” relations with India.
In a lengthy statement released a week ago, senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai, who is leaning for a higher position at the new Kabul facility, said the group wants to continue political, economic and cultural ties. Afghanistan with India. In comments that were generally perceived as conciliatory, Stanekzai described India as a “very important” player in the subcontinent and avoided any mention of delicate issues like Kashmir.
Stanekzai also met on Tuesday with India’s ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, at the Indian embassy in Doha, the first officially recognized contact between the two sides.
The Foreign Ministry has said the meeting was held “at the request of the Taliban side” and that Stanekzai had assured Mittal that the issues raised by the Indian side, including the safe return of the Indians still in Afghanistan and the land Afghan, were used for The activities of India and terrorism would be “positively addressed.”
According to the Hindustan Times, Stanekzai and Anas Haqqani are apparently leading the spread to India. Both have spoken to an Indian news channel, although it is rare for senior Taliban leaders to give interviews to Indian media.
While most of his comments have been measured and nuanced, Shaheen’s latest observations have not been seen positively in some New Delhi neighborhoods.
In his interview with the BBC, Shaheen said the Taliban do not have a policy of launching armed operations against any country, but added: “As Muslims, we also have the right to raise the voice of Muslims in Kashmir, l ‘India or any other country.’
Shaheen’s other remarks, related to the Haqqani network and the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar by five Pakistani terrorists, are also red flags for security and foreign policy-making. of India, especially those sections that harbor deep suspicions about the group and its long-standing relations with Pakistan.
Indian, American and Afghan officials have blamed the Haqqani Network for carrying out a suicide bombing in front of the Indian embassy in Kabul in 2008. The attack killed about 60 people, including the attaché. of Indian defense and a diplomat. Shaheen claimed the allegations against the Haqqani network are claims. “The Haqqani are not a group. They are part of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. They are the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, ”he said.
He also denied that the Taliban played a role in the hijacking of the IC-814 and the Indian government should be “grateful” to the group for the help it gave during the kidnapping. “It simply came to our notice then [to allow the plane to land in Kandahar] because the plane didn’t have enough fuel and then we helped free the hostages, ”he said.
New Delhi analysts have noted that the Taliban have so far not publicly acknowledged the meeting between Stanekzai and India’s ambassador to Doha, especially at a time when Taliban spokesmen have been issuing statements or tweeting about meetings between Stanekzai and envoys from countries like Pakistan. , United Kingdom (United Kingdom), Germany, Canada and France.
The foreign ministry has so far declined to comment on the Taliban’s lack of recognition at the Doha meeting and has said it is too early to say anything about the possible recognition of a Taliban settlement in Kabul.
Some of the reluctance to speak publicly on these issues can be attributed to New Delhi concentrating on the safe repatriation of Indians still in Afghanistan, which is currently believed to have a few dozen, although the government has not wanted to give specific figures.
India, which has maintained channels of communication with some Taliban leaders since last year, has insisted that its main concern in Afghanistan right now is the use of Afghan land for terrorism or any activity. against India. Leaving aside questions about the recognition of a Taliban government at a briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said: “We will address the Doha meeting for what it is: it is just a meeting and I think those are still very early days. “