Taliban has warned India against military presence in Afghanistan, while appreciating their role in public projects in the country.
Speaking to ANI, Qatar-based spokesperson of Taliban Suhail Shaheen said, “What do you mean by military role? If they come to Afghanistan militarily and have their presence. I think that will not be good for them, they have seen the fate of military presence in Afghanistan of other countries. So it is an open book for them. And about their help to the Afghan people or national projects, I think that is something which is appreciated.”
No harm to the embassies or the diplomats in Afghanistan
After Taliban’s rapid advance in the country, many have expressed fears over the safety of diplomats ad other staff i the region. U.S, UK and India have decided to begin evacuation of staff from consulates in provinces under Taliban’s outfit.
However, the group has assured that the diplomatic community will not be targeted.
“About assurance to diplomats and embassies, there is no danger from our side to them. We will not target any embassy, any diplomat that we have said in our statements, not once but many times. So it is our commitment that is being published is in media. On India’s concerns, I think it is up to them. About us, our position is clear we are not targeting any diplomat or embassy,” Suhail Shahen told ANI.
Cause for concern?
According to reports, the Taliban are close to taking control of India’s showpiece infrastructure project Salma dam, also called India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam, in the Herat province.
The dam had been inaugurated by President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. The province capital and Afghanistan’s third-largest city, Herat city, has already fallen to the Taliban.
Taliban’s rapid onslaught.
With these two cities, they have captured 12 cities within a week and are now closing in on nation’s capital Kabul.
(Featured image design: Faizan Wani, Taarukk Media)
