In a rare statement about India, the Taliban have 'praised' India for "resisting US pressure" about increased involvement in Afghanistan. In a statement on their website, the Taliban have said they will not let Afghanistan to be used by any country against any other country. They said the US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was failed to persuade Indian leaders for larger involvement in Afghanistan during his recent visit of New Delhi.
Referring to the withdrawal of foreign troops and visit of Leon Panetta in Delhi, the statement added,"He 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 that the Indian authorities did not pay heed to (U.S.) demands and showed their reservations, because the Indians know or they should know that the Americans are grinding their own axe.
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 Afghan aspirations, creeds and love for freedom. It is totally illogical they should plunge their nation into a calamity just for the American pleasure."
This is more of a warning against India than praise. India is one of the leading contributors in reconstruction and development of post-Taliban Afghanistan. During the rule of Taliban regime, New Delhi suspended and severed all diplomatic ties with the Afghanistan.
Taliban have previously attacked Indian interests in Afghanistan. The embassy bombing in Kabul in 2008 is a major attack with its horrors still in minds. The above Taliban statement recognizing India as a "significant country in the region" is not a change in their views about New Delhi, but rather a reminder about any military involvement in Afghanistan.
With massive coverage in Indian media, New Delhi has not shown any official reaction to the Taliban statement. It should not be taken as indicator of any change in Taliban views about the region and India in particular, but rather more of an attempt to remind India of terror, asking them to avoid increased involvement in Afghanistan.
India, Afghanistan and the US are going to hold a trilateral summit soon discussing more Indian engagement in Afghanistan. Timing of the Taliban statement is interesting. At a time when the US-Pakistan relations are at its worst, Washington is looking to New Delhi for increased role in Afghanistan. It is more of a pressure tool against Pakistan regarding the opening of NATO supply line. However, any Indian contribution in Afghanistan should not alert our other neighbors.