Describing India as an important country, Taliban senior leader Sher Muhammad Stanikzai said Afghanistan wanted relations with India as before focusing on trade and economic ties.
In a television broadcast speech appeared to be intended to overcome the fear of the international community, Stanikzai also appeared to be a bat to trade with India through Pakistan while also called for air trade routes to stay open.
This is the latest in a series of comments by Taliban leaders who claimed to show outreach to India after the government considering all diplomatic personnel from Kabul fear of instability in the country after the Taliban takeover.
Unlike on previous occasions, because the official source here said too, this time comments about relations with India came from senior leaders in the Taliban hierarchy who also happened to be deputy head of the group political office.
Stanikzai was also quoted as saying that the Taliban attached cultural and political bonds with India.
Follow what is called the approach “wait and wait”, India has been careful not to immediately mention the name of the Taliban in his statement in UNSC and also UNHRC while expressing concerns about the possibility of Afghanistan used by groups such as Mari and Jem to target countries at region.
While India is not possible, as it says, jumping pistols officially recognizes the Taliban, the sources say involvement with the Taliban is not ruled out.
Like the US and other people, the government believes in important involvement to ensure the government in the inclusive kabul and representative.
Under his watch, UNSC in a statement on August 16, the day after the Taliban takeover, roll back the “declaration” that it would not accept the recovery of the Emirates of Islam in Afghanistan.
Last week, on Friday, UNSC dropped the mention of the Taliban when calling all groups not to support terrorist activities.
“India is an important country in this region and we want a broad trade and economic bond (with India).
We want our relationship with India to continue as before,” said Stanikzai on Saturday, adding that trade with India through Pakistan is very important.
He was also reported to have been looking for access to the Indian market for Afghan business.
“We also need to open air trade with India,” he said.
Taliban spokesman in Qatar Suhail Shaheen previously said that the group did not want India to attract his diplomat and that the Taliban did not oppose India’s efforts to develop infrastructure in Afghanistan.
However, he said the Taliban opposed India’s relationship with former President of President of Ashraf Ghani.
Taliban wants trade with India through Pakistan
