Taliban warns India against military presence in Afghanistan, discusses links with Pak

Afghanistan's second-largest capital Kandahar fell to Taliban on Friday. Closing in on Kabul, terrorist group has managed to take over large swas of territory including crucial provincial capitals of Herat and Lashkar Gah. As threat looms large on Kabul, Taliban Spokesperson Muhammed Suhail Shaheen in an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, discussed Taliban's outlook towards neighboring countries like India, its relations with Pakistan-based terror groups, and recent attacks on religious minorities such as Sikh community in war-torn nation. 

Taliban on relations with India

On being asked if Taliban can assure India that Afghan soil will not be used against it, spokesperson claimed that  group's policy was to refrain from using its soil against any country, including its neighbors. "re is no danger from our side to embassies and diplomats. We won't target any embassy or diplomat. We've said that in our statements many times. It is our commitment. We have a general policy that we're committed not to allow anyone to use Afghan soil against any country including neighboring countries," said Muhammed Suhail Shaheen. 

However, he also dressed India's support to Afghanistan security forces warning that 'fate of military presence in Afghanistan was an open book' for everyone to see.

 "If y (India) come to Afghanistan militarily and have presence re, I think that will not be good for m. y've seen fate of military presence in Afghanistan of or countries, so it is an open book for m," he said. 

Talking about India's financial and infrastructural aid to Afghanistan, spokesperson stated that Taliban appreciated everything that India h done for people of Afghanistan including building of dams, infrastructure projects, and anything that was for Afghanistan's development, reconstruction, and economic prosperity for people. He stated, "y (India) have been helping Afghan people or national projects. y did it in past. I think that is something which is appreciated." 

Taliban on links with Pak-based terror groups

Afghanistan Government has on repeated occasions slammed Taliban for colluding with Pakistan forces. y have also accused country of sending its commandoes to fight within Taliban ranks. Responding to allegations Muhammed Suhail Shaheen claimed that se accusations were 'baseless'. 

"y're not based on ground realities but on basis of ir certain policies towards us, and on basis of politically motivated goals," he claimed.

Taliban dresses attack on Nishan Sahib

With Taliban's takeover, several incidents of attacks on minority communities have been coming to fore. Recently,  Taliban has removed ‘Nishan Sahib,’  Sikh religious flag from roof of a gurdwara in Chamkani area of Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan. dressing incident, Taliban spokesperson claimed, "that flag was removed by Sikh community mselves."

(With Agency Inputs)