India holds first official meeting with the Taliban

Doha, Sept 1: India’s envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal on Tuesday met senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Stanikzai, head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, stated the Ministry of External Affairs. It is the first-ever official meeting between the two sides.

 

"Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha. The meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, at the request of the Taliban side," the statement said.

 

India held discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India also came up amid the discussions. Mittal also raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

 

 

According to the Ministry, The Taliban representative assured the ambassador that these issues would be positively addressed. It should be noted senior leader of the outfit Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai had said that the Taliban wanted to maintain Afghanistan's trade, economic and political relations with India.

 

This is the first such officially confirmed meeting between India and the Taliban. India had not recognized the Taliban during its previous reign of Afghanistan and had firmly supported the Ashraf Ghani government before it fell. But the Taliban are keen on gaining international recognition since its latest triumph, its leaders projecting a moderate face to the international press.

 

 

It is worth noting that Stanikzai, an integral part of the Talibani leadership, had once served as a cadet at the prestigious Indian Military Academy in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. He is chief negotiator to discuss peace with the Afghan government. However, days before the meeting, it was announced that he would act as a deputy to Abdul Hakim.