RASC News Agency: Mohammad Ashraf Haidari, the former Afghanistan ambassador to Sri Lanka, has issued a stern warning to India, cautioning that closer ties with the Taliban could erode its credibility and trust among the Afghanistani people. Haidari argued that India’s engagement with the Taliban amounts to a betrayal of the Afghanistani people’s struggle for freedom and democracy, jeopardizing both their aspirations and India’s strategic interests in the region.
Writing in the Deccan Herald on Saturday, Haidari who also previously served as deputy ambassador in New Delhi expressed grave concerns over India’s apparent overtures toward the Taliban regime. He urged India to realign itself with the Afghanistani populace, as it had during Afghanistan’s first resistance against extremist forces. “As a diplomat who dedicated three years to fostering stronger Indo-Afghanistan relations, it is disheartening to see images of Indian officials smiling and shaking hands with Taliban leaders,” Haidari remarked.
He underscored that the Afghanistani people have consistently trusted Indian diplomats, drawn not only by shared civilizational ties and common values but also by a mutual commitment to countering terrorism and extremism. Haidari recalled the strategic partnership agreement signed between Afghanistan and India in October 2011 under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai. This agreement committed both nations to collaborate on security issues, including combating international terrorism, organized crime, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering.
He warned against sacrificing long-term interests for fleeting political gains, emphasizing that Afghanistanis overwhelmingly reject terrorism. “India must not betray the Afghanistani people for short-term benefits. Such actions would tarnish its reputation and undermine its standing in Afghanistan,” he cautioned. Haidari further lamented that India no longer holds the esteemed position it once enjoyed among Afghanistanis before the Taliban’s rise to power. He accused New Delhi of losing sight of broader regional dynamics by engaging in narrow “tactical interactions” with the Taliban.
Since its takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban has sought to establish diplomatic ties with several nations, including India. However, like many other countries, India has thus far refrained from officially recognizing the Taliban government.
