India's meet with Taliban focussed on ensuring no 'anti-India' activities: MEA
"We used opportunity to convey our concerns, whether it is on getting people out or on issue of terror and anti-Indian activities, we received positive response", said MEA on meeting with Taliban
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New Delhi, Sept 3: Two days after India’s envoy to Qatar held talks with a top Taliban leader in Doha, the Ministry of External Affairs that India has raised concerns that Afghan soil is not used for terrorist activities directed against the country.
India had used the meeting in Doha for safe evacuation of people from Afghanistan, on the issue of terrorism and anti-Indian activities MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.
“We used that opportunity to convey our concerns, whether it is on getting people out or on the issue of terror and anti-Indian activities, we received positive response,” Bagchi said, referring to the meeting between India’s Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal and the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai.
Also Read: India holds first official meeting with the Taliban
In a very official meeting New Delhi had held discussions with the Taliban on Tuesday made this first official contact with the Taliban on Tuesday, hours after the last US military aircraft flew out of Kabul, marking the end of the 20-year war.
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.
Also Read: 'We have every right to raise our concerns for Muslims of Kashmir': Taliban contradicting its own remarks?
Further, he reiterated "Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist activities, of any kind of anti-Indian activities." When asked about the evcuation of Indians still stranded in Afghanistan, he said, "Our Afghanistan Special Cell is in touch with them but let me emphasize. Vast majority has gone. Very few Indians are left, but some are for sure, we are in touch with them and as I said after evacuating they were asking what can we do. Then we will see how they can come out."