Two weeks after seizing power in Afghanistan, sources say that the Taliban are all set to form a government on Friday. This comes in the wake of reports of differences among the Taliban factions on the issue of government formation.
The Taliban took Afghanistan under its control after capturing Kabul on 15 August, even before the complete withdrawal of American forces.
Meanwhile, India on Thursday said that it is not aware of any details or nature of what kind of government could be formed in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover of the war-torn country.
In a press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We are not aware of any details or nature of what kind of government could be formed in Afghanistan. I have no update on our meeting (with Taliban).”
India has established its first formal contact with the Taliban on Tuesday. Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met the head of Taliban›s political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha at the Indian mission. India and the Taliban held discussions on the safety of Indians in Afghanistan, especially minorities. Indian envoy Mittal also urged the Taliban that Afghan soil should not be used for terror acts against India.
He also said that it›s too early to say anything on the recognition of the Taliban. The recent meeting with Taliban leadership in Doha should be seen just as a meeting, the MEA spokesperson said.
“Let us see Doha meeting for what it is, it is just a meeting and I think these are still very early days. I don›t have further on that,” Bagchi said on the question of recognising the Taliban. New Delhi said that its main concern is that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorism against India.
“Our focus is not that Taliban is a terror organisation or not, our focus is that Afghan soil should not be used in anti-India activity and terrorism against India. We will focus on that element,” MEA spokesperson said.
The MEA has also confirmed that as if now there is no official intimation on government formation in Afghanistan and has categorically said that there is no invitation extended to India.
“We are not aware of the invite, I have seen media reports on the government formation. We don›t have any update on the invitation ‹and neither could I share the nature of which government could form in Afghanistan,” Bagchi said.
According to Afghanistan›s media reports, the Taliban have said that it would form an inclusive government in the next two days and there are preparations underway at the presidential palace in Kabul.
India has also hinted that the evacuation process may restart once Kabul airport resumes operations. «We are prioritising evacuation of our nationals and some Afghans. Currently, Kabul airport is not operational so I don›t have any update on when. We will revisit the issue once Kabul airport reopens and resume, meanwhile Afghan cell continues to operate,” MEA added.