Taliban has poured cold water on Pakistan’s plans to use its fighters as a tool against India in Kashmir, with the statement that it will not allow its soil to be used against for spreading violence against any other country.
Asked about the Taliban’s views regarding India, Suhail Shaheen said in Urdu: “We have said that we will not allow any country or any group to use the soil of Afghanistan against anyone. This is clear.” It has been repeating for many months that it wants good relations with India (although its statements need to be taken with a pinch of salt), and this is a big blow to Pakistan’s establishment.
Shaheen, responsible for the group’s interaction with foreign media, added: “Secondly, [India] has made projects, many reconstruction and infrastructure projects, and if they want, they can complete the incomplete projects because they are for the people.”
He further said: “But if anyone wants to use Afghan soil for their objectives or for their military objectives or for their rivalries – our policy doesn’t allow anyone to do that.”
Previously it was reported that “A large number of Pakistani fighters have joined the fight inside Afghanistan against the government there and supporting the Taliban. They have entered the arena with instructions to target Indian assets and buildings.”
However, given the fact, Taliban wants to preserve these projects and it has repeatedly said that it has no problem with the Indian government and its projects, the Taliban and Pakistan-supported militia might end up fighting over these projects.
Taliban, although brutal, cruel, and inhuman, realizes the importance of these projects which have taken years to build and costs billions of dollars. Taliban also realizes that given its brutality, the international community would not give a single penny to rebuilt projects like the parliament if they are destroyed.
So, as far as India and its projects are concerned, the Taliban and Pakistan stand on opposite sides.
Taliban and Pakistan have many other issues that would ensure that they are friendly once the Taliban starts controlling the whole Afghani territory. While Pakistan’s government and its top parties continue to serenade the Afghan Taliban, another monster in its backyard has started making the lives of ordinary Pakistanis difficult. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also referred to in the media as the ‘Pakistani Taliban’, which has fashioned itself on the lines of Afghan Taliban but is essentially anti-Pakistan in its stance, is looking to assimilate the Pashtuns from across the border, and is refusing to acknowledge the Durand line.
So, as far as the stance on India is concerned, the Taliban has not spoken or taken any action that would irk the Modi government. Its spokesperson has repeatedly said that they want good relations with India and would not allow their soil to be used against any other country. Therefore, Pakistan’s aspirations to utilize the armed forces that brought down the Soviet Union and the United States do not look like going anywhere.
However, the Modi government must prepare its defense to deal with Taliban-led Afghanistan and Pakistan on the Western side and China on the eastern side, because the Islamist and Communist forces cannot be trusted.
