Taking a dig at the BJP-led Union Government at the Centre for initiating talks with the Taliban, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked the Centre to clarify whether the new rulers of Afghanistan are viewed as terrorists or not by the Indian Government.
“Either Taliban is a terrorist organisation or not, please clarify to us how you see them. If they are a terror group, why are you talking to them? If not then will you (Centre) move to the United Nations and have it delisted as a terror organisation? Make up your mind,” Abdullah said in response to a specific question posed to him at the Jammu based party headquarters in Sher-e-Kashmir bhawan.
Omar was interacting with the media at the party office after attending a meeting of party leaders from Jammu region along with party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Interestingly, Omar refused to respond to questions whether the situation in Afghanistan will have any impact on Jammu and Kashmir or not? “I don’t have any information so it is better you pose this question to the Government of India, i cannot answer this question as i don’t have any information with me,” Omar told reporters after he was quizzed by them.
Omar’s remarks came a day after India held first talks with the Taliban on Tuesday. Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal had met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, the first high-level contact between the two sides on a day the US completed withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan. It said the meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side.
During the meeting, The Ministry of External Affairs said Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern at the meeting that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.
It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan as well as the travel of Afghan nationals wishing to visit India. The MEA said the Taliban leader assured Mittal that these issues would be positively addressed.