India: Kashmir's Ex-State Chief Hopes Taliban Will Run Afghanistan According to Islamic Rules

On 31 August, the Indian Foreign Ministry announced the beginning of a formal dialogue with the Taliban* while its ambassador to Doha met the head of the movement's political office.

A day after the Taliban announced an interim government, a prominent Indian parliamentarian and ex-state chief of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah, urged the movement to ensure the protection of the human rights of Afghans and maintain friendly relations with all countries, including India. Dr Abdullah hopes that the Taliban will run a successful government in Afghanistan.

"They should ensure to protect the human rights of their citizens and give them a just and honourable government under the Islamic rules".

Farooq Abdullah

Former Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir

Last week, the Indian ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met key Taliban diplomat Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai at the Indian Embassy in Doha and conveyed Delhi's concerns that Afghanistan's soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism.

On the other hand, the son of Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, slammed the Indian government and said that it should make it clear to the nation whether the Taliban is viewed as a terrorist.

"Either [the] Taliban is a terror organisation or not. So please clarify to us how you see them", Abdullah said. "If they're a terror group, why are you talking to them? If not, then will you move to the United Nations and have them delisted as a terror organisation? Make up your mind", he added.

*The Taliban is a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.