India, Iran reject Islamic Emirate's return to Afghanistan as US troops drawdown nears

India and Iran have jointly opposed possible return of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan asserting that war-torn nation could not go “backwards”, Afghanistan Times reported. Back in 1996, after fall of Kabul, Taliban h established a totalitarian regime in country and named it Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, ir rule ended just after five years after militant organisation was overthrown by Norrn alliance.

However, as US reies its troops to leave Afghan soil, both Tehran and New Delhi have expressed concerns about Islamic Emirate. Speaking on Saturday, Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs called it an ‘existential threat” against Pakistan and a “national security threat” for Iran and India. Furrmore, he asserted that India was not a rival to Pakistan when it came to Afghanistan crisis. “This is an illusion to think that what India does in Afghanistan indirectly targets Pakistan. se words harm India’s efforts in Afghanistan,” he ded.

"We need to put our differences aside and focus on our commons including reality that  Islamic Emirate is an existential threat against Pakistan and a national security threat for Iran and India," said Iran's Foreign Minister Mohamm Jav Zarif echoing Jaishankar’s stance.

US troops withdrawal 

statement comes days after Pentagon asserted that US might increase number of soldiers to ensure a safe and orderly drawdown of its troops from conflict-prone area. At present, re are a total of 28,000 troops stationed in Islamic Republic, all of whom would be pulled out by September 11. However, considering threats from an ever emboldened Taliban, Pentagon stated that it was possible that ditional soldiers would be ded to troops in near future.

dressing press reporters, John Kirby, Spokesperson for US Department of Defense said that it was not out of “realm of possibility” that for a short period of time re would be some “ditional enabling capabilities” ded to Afghanistan. He ded that this would be solely with a motive to facilitate a “safe, orderly and deliberately planned drawdown” of troops by President Biden’s announced deline. However, spokesperson refrained from providing any details into number or nature of dition.

Image Credits: AP/PTI