The Taliban has said it appreciates India’s humanitarian efforts and reconstruction projects in war-torn Afghanistan. Speaking to ANI, Qatar-based spokesperson of Taliban Suhail Shaheen said: “We appreciate everything that has been done for people of Afghanistan like dams, national and infrastructure projects and anything that’s for Afghanistan’s development, reconstruction and economic prosperity for people.”
Shaheen, however, warned India against building a military presence in Afghanistan. He said: “If they (India) come to Afghanistan militarily and have their presence, I think it will not be good for them. They have seen the fate of military presence in Afghanistan of other countries.”
When asked about the incident where the Sikh religious flag was brought down at a gurdwara in Paktia province, he said that the community had brought down the flag themselves. Assuring the safety of the Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, Shaheen told ANI: “They removed that themselves. When there were reports in the media, we reached to our officials in Paktia province and asked about the problem.”
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He added that the Taliban will not target any embassy or diplomat in the country. The Taliban spokesperson also denied allegations of links with Pakistan-based terror groups. He said that Afghan soil will not be used against any foreign country, including India.
In an exclusive interview to THE WEEK earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had said that India’s role in Afghanistan ‘has not been good’ and that the Taliban wants to have ‘diplomatic ties with India’. “India has supported the foreign forces system, it supplied equipment for the war, leading to our own people becoming martyrs. We hope India rethinks its position on the diplomatic way forward,” he had said.
The Taliban has captured Herat and Kandahar, the country's second and third largest cities. As the Taliban insurgents increasingly gain ground in Afghanistan, some accounts state that 60 per cent of the country's territory is under their control. There is growing concern that Kabul too could fall into the hands of the Taliban soon.