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Taliban praises Delhi, says it's not anti-India
Sunday June 17, 2012 06:15:18 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: The
Taliban has come out with a rare praise of India for reportedly
standing up to the US over the Afghan situation, and promised that
Afghanistan won't be used to hurt Indian interests.
In a commentary on its English website, the Taliban called India
"a significant country in the region" and said Indians were well
aware of the "aspirations, creeds and love for freedom" of the
Afghan people.
"It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation into a
calamity just for the American pleasure," it added, referring to
media reports that India won't get militarily involved in
Afghanistan.
The Taliban commentary on "Voice of Jehad" website followed a
visit to New Delhi by US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta this month
ahead of America's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It said Panetta wanted India to play a more important role in
Afghanistan on the security front but that the Indians gave him a
polite 'no'.
"Although full details of (the) negotiations have not come out, it
seems the host's answer was negative... (Panetta) spent three days
in India to transfer the heavy burden to their shoulders, to find
an exit and to flee from Afghanistan.
"Some reliable media sources said the Indian authorities did not
pay heed to (US) demands and showed their reservations, because
the Indians know or they should know that the Americans are
grinding their own axe.
"No doubt India is a significant country in the region but is also
worth mentioning that they have full information about Afghanistan
because they know each other very well in the long history.
"They are aware of the Afghans' aspirations, creeds and love for
freedom. It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation
into a calamity just for the American pleasure."
It said the Taliban wanted "to have cordial relations on the basis
of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and no interference in
each other's internal affairs.
"We have made it clear that no one would be allowed to use the
Afghan soil for anyone's detriment."
The commentary assumes significance because India along with Iran
and Russia played a major role in keeping alive the Northern
Alliance when the Taliban ruled Kabul. The Alliance ousted the
Taliban after 9/11.
Many in New Delhi have been opposed to the Pakistan-backed Taliban
fearing that a return of the militia to Kabul would benefit
Islamabad.
The commentary seemed to be an attempt by the Taliban to assure
New Delhi that it need not worry despite the militia's close ties
with Pakistan, India's arch foe.
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