New Delhi, Jun 18 : In a rare appreciation, the official English website of Afghanistan's Taliban has praised Indian government for rejecting a US request to send its army to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Nato forces.
In a commentary on its English website, the Taliban called India “a significant country in the region” and said Indians were well aware of the “aspirations, creeds and love for freedom” of the Afghan people.
“It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation into a calamity just for the American pleasure,” they added, referring to media reports that India won't get militarily involved in Afghanistan.
The Taliban commentary on “Voice of Jehad” website followed a visit to New Delhi by US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta this month ahead of America's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It said Panetta wanted India to play a more important role in Afghanistan on the security front but that the Indians gave him a polite ‘no'.
“Although full details of (the) negotiations have not come out, it seems the host's answer was negative... (Panetta) spent three days in India to transfer the heavy burden to their shoulders, to find an exit and to flee from Afghanistan.
“Some reliable media sources said the Indian authorities did not pay heed to (US) demands and showed their reservations, because the Indians know or they should know that the Americans are grinding their own axe.
“No doubt India is a significant country in the region but is also worth mentioning that they have full information about Afghanistan because they know each other very well in the long history.
“They are aware of the Afghans' aspirations, creeds and love for freedom. It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation into a calamity just for the American pleasure.”
The Taliban said they wanted “to have cordial relations on the basis of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and no interference in each other's internal affairs. “We have made it clear that no one would be allowed to use the Afghan soil for anyone's detriment.”
The commentary assumes significance because India along with Iran and Russia played a major role in keeping alive the Northern Alliance when the Taliban ruled Kabul. The Alliance ousted the Taliban after 9/11.
Many in New Delhi have been opposed to the Pakistan-backed Taliban fearing that a return of the militia to Kabul would benefit Islamabad.
The commentary seemed to be an attempt by the Taliban to assure New Delhi that it need not worry despite the militia's close ties with Pakistan, India's arch foe.
Here is the full text of the commentary on shahamat-english.com, the English website of Taliban:
"The whole world knows that after the announcement of the ‘Alfarooq' jihadi operation on 2nd May 2012, Mujahedeen have changed their military tactics. They started brave offensive operations. They made the ground as warm as oven for the invaders and their puppet militias. They made them so confused that now they cannot find the exit.
"The astonishing thing is the defense secretary of United States Mr. Leon Panetta who was has also worked as the head of the C.I.A. gives contradictory statements and his acts are not lucid. On 28th May he said to IBC television in an interview that we will have permanent presence in Afghanistan and we not go anywhere from Afghanistan. But a day earlier in the same month he said to the Washington Post newspaper that we not have permanent presence in Afghanistan after 2012.
"In the first week of the current month June the defense secretary of America went on a tour of the Pacific region and Vietnam and India were his main stations. America wants to send her military ships to the Pacific region to destabilize the regional peace because the American history has proved that it seeks its benefits in others loss.
"The interesting thing is that the defense secretary for the first time visited the army base which was their military centre during the Vietnam War to find some clues of the 1200 missing troops. The reason of the search of the missing persons after 40 years is also Afghanistan as they have pushed the American nation into another tragedy because of their obstinacy and irrational politics.
"The above mentioned notorious secretary arrived on 5th June to New Delhi with the hope the host country will welcome their demand to come to Afghanistan because we have now tamed the war. But as it is said they tried to deceive even a cleverer one; because the Indian people and their authorities are observing this illicit war for the last 12 years and they are aware of the Afghan nation and their demands.
"Although full details of negotiations have not come out to the press but it seems that the host's answer was negative. The forth mentioned secretary moved empty handed towards Kabul without gaining any success or progress in his efforts. He spent 3 days in India to transfer the heavy burden to their shoulders, to find an exit and to flee from Afghanistan.
"Some reliable media sources said that the Indian authorities did not pay heed to demands and showed their reservations, because the Indians know or they should know that the Americans are grinding their own axe. It (the U.S.) has very long history and experience in changing its loyalties.
They (the Americans) always chase their vested interests and have never cared for others interests nor for their miseries.
"No doubt that India is a significant country in the region, but is also worth mentioning that they have full information about Afghanistan because they know each other very well in the long history. They are aware of the Afghans' aspirations, creeds and love for freedom. It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation into a calamity just for the American pleasure.
"The Islamic Emirate has repeated announced in its statements and declarations that we want to have cordial relations on the basis of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and no interference in each other's internal affairs.
We have made it clear that no one would be allowed to use the Afghan soil for anyone's detriment.
"The Islamic Emirate insists that the solution of the Afghan issue lies in the withdrawal of the external forces and to leave the sovereignty of Afghanistan for Afghans themselves."
