Are Taliban terrorists or not”: Omar Abdullah on India-Afghanistan talks

Are Taliban terrorists or not”: Omar Abdullah on India-Afghanistan talks

SRINAGAR, SEP 01 (PTK): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has urged the central government to clear the situation regarding the Taliban.

Abdullah asked the Modi government, “Taliban is either a terrorist organization or not. Please explain how you see them. If they are terrorist groups then why are you talking to them?”

He further said, “And if you do not believe so, will you go to the United Nations and ask them to be removed from the list of terrorist organizations.”

Omar Abdullah made these remarks after the first official confirmation of the meeting between India and the Taliban.

On Tuesday, India’s ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, had a meeting with the head of the Taliban’s political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Tastikzai, in Doha.

The Indian foreign ministry said the meeting was “at the request of the Taliban”.

The ministry said that in this meeting, the safe and early return of the stranded Indians in Afghanistan was discussed.

After the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release: “Today, India’s Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stankzai, the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha. The meeting was held at the request of the Taliban side by the Indian government.

“Discussions focused on the safety, security and speedy return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The visit of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to travel to India also came to the fore.

“Ambassador Mittal expressed India’s concern that the soil of Afghanistan should not be used in any way for anti-India activities and terrorism. The representative of the Taliban assured the ambassador that these issues would be addressed positively,” the foreign ministry further said. (PTK)