New Delhi: Given the security situation in Afghanistan, the decision was made by the Indian government to remove diplomats and personnel from the Kabul embassy. However, the Taliban did not want India to evacuate the embassy in Kabul, requesting it to retain its diplomatic position in Afghanistan, vowing to ensure the mission's safety.
It is learnt that the informal request was made by the head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, right before India evacuated about 200 people, including diplomatic and security personnel earlier this week. There are still many Indians stuck in Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan, including a group of around 300 Sikhs and Hindus who are taking refuge at a Gurdwara in Afghanistan.
Commenting on the issue, Prof Harsh Pant, Director, Research at Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi told ETV Bharat that as far as India is concerned, any commitment that the Taliban makes cannot be taken at face value. The Taliban cannot be trusted, India should take cautious steps. He said, "India was right to evacuate its officials from Kabul, despite, Stanekzai seeming request. As far as India is concerned, any commitment made by the Taliban cannot be taken at face value. India cannot put its eggs in the Taliban basket at least at this stage. India should wait and watch and see how the Taliban behaves over the next few weeks and months. And perhaps decides its future course of action", he pointed out.
"These are very early days and opposition to Taliban is beginning to shape up under the leadership of Amrullah Saleh. Therefore, I don't think there is any real hurry in this case. The reports that are emerging are that of the Taliban going from house to house, trying to take on people who have not been their supporters. That is how the Taliban have always behaved. I don't see that the request made by the Taliban should have been reason enough for India to keep its diplomatic staff there. The decision was sensible and as far as the Taliban regime in Afghanistan is concerned, India has every reason to take ginger steps", Pant underlined.
According to sources, Stanekzai conveyed in his message to the Indian side that the Taliban were aware of New Delhi's concern over the security situation in Kabul, following the August 15 seizure of power by the Taliban, telling them not to worry about the safety of its mission. After reviewing the message, India decided that it should not be accepted and that the evacuation of the diplomats should proceed as planned.
Change in India-Afghan ties under Taliban regime
Further, when asked as to how the India-Afghan ties would be under the Taliban regime, Professor Pant said, "Under the Taliban, India- Afghan ties are going to be different because there is uncertainty as to what the Taliban plan to do next."
"Although, the Taliban insurgent groups are making promises during their press conferences that they want to bring all the stakeholders together and if they can create a structure for political reconciliation, then India should have no problem engaging with them. But if the situation escalates and the Taliban continue to wipe out their political opponents, continue to be brutal, and continues to be an ideological group that is run by extremists, then what's there for India to engage with? because there is nothing they are going to give India that will make any difference."