News Analysis India

Tag: Taliban

  • UP: Shahjahanpur youth trapped in Afghanistan, BJP MP reaches out to MEA

    By PTI

    SHAHJAHANPUR: A youth from the district is trapped in Afghanistan and awaiting return to his native place, his family member said here on Friday.

    Jeet Bahdur Thapa (30), a resident of Chinaur here, had gone to Afghanistan for job two-and-a-half-years ago.

    He worked as a helper at a company in Kabul.

    “When the Taliban captured Afghanistan, they ordered 111 Indians to leave the company, after which all Indians walked 30 km to the embassy of a country, whose name he is not sure,” Thapa’s sister Santoshi Thapa told PTI.

    “In a telephonic conversation, he appeared very scared. He did not get food for two days. Today, he got food. He talks only for a minute and on the phone speaker all family members hear his voice. It appears that my brother is crying there,” she said.

    She said there are eight members in their family.

    “No one has slept in our house for the past four days. We remain awake in the night, praying to God for his well-being and safe return,” she said.

    BJP MP Arun Sagar told PTI over the phone that he is aware that a youth is trapped in Afghanistan and has spoken to the Delhi authorities in this regard.

    “The youth, Jeet Bahadur Thapa, will return safely,” he said.

  • Afghanistan crisis: MEA’s assistance cell steps up efforts to evacuate Indians; bilateral trade becomes new issue

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A round-the-clock special cell set up by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following the Taliban takeover of Kabul has been focusing on keeping track of stranded Indians in Afghanistan, ascertaining assistance being sought and advising further course of action.

    The ‘Special Afghanistan Cell’ was set up in MEA on the evening of August 16 to coordinate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan in a streamlined manner.

    The cell is being manned 24×7 by young officers of the MEA under the guidance and supervision of senior officers and more than 20 officials have been deployed to it, people familiar with the matter said.

    The officers manning the cell answer calls, respond to emails and WhatsApp messages, enquire about the well-being and current status of people contacting them, they said.

    It also updates the database of Indians still in Afghanistan, ascertains assistance being sought, and advise further course of action, they said.

    The cell was set up prior to the departure of India-based personnel from the Indian embassy in Kabul in order to ensure seamless contact of Indians still remaining in Afghanistan.

    It has been working in close coordination with various divisions of the MEA to ensure the smooth flow of most updated information to all concerned, the people cited above said.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

    Kabul fell to the Taliban on Sunday.

    By Tuesday, India completed the evacuation of all its diplomats and other staff members from the Afghan capital under a difficult and complicated exercise, effectively closing its mission for the second time since 1996 when the militant group captured power.

    ALSO READ | Taliban takeover stops import of Afghan dry fruits to India, prices surge

    The mission to evacuate close to 200 people including the Indian envoy and other staffers in two military aircraft was accomplished with support from the US.

    Following the evacuation, the MEA said the focus now would be to ensure the safe return of all Indian nationals from the Afghan capital.

    The MEA said the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan.

    It also requested the Indians as well as their employers to urgently share the relevant details with the special Afghanistan cell “Government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is open for commercial operations,” the MEA said on Tuesday.

    “Our immediate priority is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently in Afghanistan. They and/or their employers are requested to urgently share the relevant details with MEA’s Special Afghanistan Cell,” it said.

    Bilateral trade with Afghanistan has been impacted and Indian exporters are concerned about their payments as banking services and remittances may face restrictions due to the ongoing situation in that country, industry body FIEO said on Thursday.

    Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said it is advising exporters to take credit insurance to safeguard their business interests against default.

    With the growing uncertainties, trade with Afghanistan has been impacted, he said, adding imports through the land route which passes through Pakistan have been the most affected.

    As informed by businesses, Sahai said, while restrictions on the Afghanistan side no longer remain, Pakistan continues to seal the Torkham border, while some movement of personnel was permitted on the Chaman border.

    “Exporters are concerned and watching the development. Exporters are concerned with payments also as banking or remittances may face some restrictions,” he added.

    The bilateral trade stood at USD 1.4 billion in 2020-21 as against USD 1.52 billion in 2019-20.

    Exports from India were USD 826 million and imports aggregated to USD 510 million in 2020-21.

    Afghan exports to India include dried raisins, walnuts, almonds, fig, pine nut, pistachios, dried apricot and fresh fruits such as apricot, cherry, watermelon, and medicinal herbs.

    India’s outbound shipments to that country include tea, coffee, pepper and cotton.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan earlier this month, seizing control of almost all key Afghan towns and cities following the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.

    Kabul also fell to the Taliban on Sunday after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country.

  • Tripura BJP MLA asks workers to attack Trinamool Congress leaders in ‘Talibani style’

    By PTI

    AGARTALA: A ruling BJP MLA in Tripura, Arun Chandra Bhowmik, has stoked a controversy by allegedly saying that his party activists should counter Trinamool Congress leaders in “Talibani style” if they land at Agartala airport.

    The saffron camp, however, said it is the MLA’s version and not that of the BJP.

    With an eye on the Tripura Assembly polls in 2023, TMC leaders, including its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, are visiting the hilly state frequently to try and build a base and an organisation for the party which till now has been confined to West Bengal.

    “The TMC is trying to harm the Biplab Kumar Deb-led government in Tripura that came to power by ending the 25-year-long Communist rule. All these are happening due to the instigation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” the legislator who represents Belonia constituency said.

    Bhowmik made this remark Wednesday during a felicitation ceremony for newly inducted Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhowmik at Belonia old town hall in South Tripura district.

    “I appeal to all of you that we need to attack them in Talibani style. We need to attack them once they land at the airport here. We will protect our government led by Biplab Kumar Deb with every drop of blood,” he said.

    A video clip of his comments went viral on the social media inviting wide criticism. Reacting to his remarks, Tripura TMC leader Subal Bhowmik demanded the BJP MLA’s arrest. “West Bengal TMC leaders were harassed last night at a private hotel in Agartala where they are staying. The incident happened after the MLA made this provocative remark,” he claimed.

    BJP Tripura chief spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said the comment made by Bhowmik is exclusively his own and the party does not take any responsibility. “It is entirely his responsibility. This is not the culture of BJP,” Chakraborty told PTI.

    When contacted, Bhowmik said he had made the remark as an example to justify how to counter the TMC seriously. “I used the word ‘Talibani’ to make it clear that the way the Trinamool Congress is trying to harm the BJP government in Tripura, it needs a strong reaction. Use of the word ‘Talibani’ might have sent a wrong message, but my intention was just to narrate how to counter them seriously,” the BJP legislator said.

    Clashes between the TMC and the BJP have been reported from Tripura over the past few weeks. On his first visit, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy was allegedly attacked by BJP workers in Tripura on August 3.

    The TMC had claimed that two of its youth leaders from West Bengal sustained injuries after being attacked by BJP workers in Dhalai district of the north-eastern state on August 7. The TMC alleged that two of its MPs -Dola Sen and Aparupa Poddar – were attacked twice by BJP supporters in South Tripura district on Independence Day.

    However, the saffron party has denied the allegations, saying the TMC posed no threat to them in the state.

  • Sidhu’s adviser Mali courts controversy with Facebook posts on Kashmir and Taliban

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu’s adviser Malwinder Singh Mali has courted a controversy with his recent Facebook posts on the Taliban and Kashmir, saying that India and Pakistan had illegally usurped Kashmir and that the Taliban will improve the condition of Afghanistan.

    Earlier this week, Mali had written in a Facebook post on the Taliban, “Now it is their responsibility to protect Sikhs and Hindus. They will rule to improve the condition of the country, not like before.”

    Standing by the statement, Mali said on Thursday, “The earlier motive of Taliban was to spread Islam and jihad all over the world with the help of Bin Laden. Thus they were thrown out of power for almost twenty years. Now as they have recaptured power, it seems to me it is not the old Taliban as it used to be, it has changed its approach. It now wants peace and goodwill. Thus this transformation of power will help restore peace in South Asia as it has been proved that no outside force can rule a country forcefully. I stand by my post and facts.”

    In an August 17 post on Kashmir, Mali says, “Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris. Going against the tenets of the UNO resolutions, India and Pakistan have illegally usurped Kashmir. If Kashmir was a part of India, then what was the need to have Articles 370 and 35-A. What was the special agreement with King Hari Singh? Tell people what were the terms of the agreement.”

    Mali also stood by his statement on Kashmir, saying, “The law to repeal article 370 and 35A has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the matter is still pending.”

    SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Kashmir is an integral part of India. The police should register a case against him. Does he stand with forces which are working against the nation?”

    Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma wrote a letter to Sidhu demanding immediate action against Mali and asking Sidhu whether he agreed with Mali’s statement on Kashmir.

    Mali is not new to controversies. On August 14, he had accused Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating communal tensions in the state.

  • India should be ‘open-minded’ about dealing with Taliban: Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday said India should be “open-minded” about dealing with the Taliban and suggested that it should open its embassy in Kabul and send back the ambassador.

    Noting that the people of Afghanistan have great love for India while Pakistan is not popular among them, Sinha told PTI in an interview that the Indian government should not conclude that the Taliban will place itself “in Pakistan’s lap” as every country furthers its own interests.

    As a big country, India should approach the issues of the Taliban with a degree of confidence and should not indulge in a “widow’s wail” as if Pakistan has taken over Afghanistan or has an advantage over it, he added.

    That the Taliban now controls most of Afghanistan is a reality, Sinha said, adding that India should adopt “wait and watch” mode and be in no hurry either to recognise or to dismiss its regime.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key Afghan towns and cities in the country following the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.

    Kabul also fell to the Taliban on Sunday after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country for an unknown destination.

    “It appears on the face of it that the Taliban of 2021 is not the same Taliban of 2001. There appears to be some difference. They are making mature statements. That is something we have to take note of,” Sinha said.

    “I am not saying that take their statements at face value but I will also suggest that they should not be dismissed off-hand because of their past behaviour. We have to look at present and future,” he added.

    Sinha was the foreign minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government but became a critic of the Modi government and quit the BJP.

    He is currently vice president in the Trinamool Congress.

    He said India should have waited instead of immediately closing its embassy and evacuating its people after the extremist Islamist organisation captured Kabul.

    India on Tuesday rushed back home its ambassador Rudrendra Tandon and staff from the embassy in Kabul in a military transport aircraft following escalating tension, fear and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after the Taliban insurgents seized the Afghan capital on Sunday.

    This policy needs to have a second look, Sinha said, noting that the Taliban is holding talks with former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, who took office after the US-led forces had toppled the previous Taliban regime after the 9/11 terror attack, and its former CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

    It could not have been imagined earlier, Sinha said.

    He added, “India should immediately open its embassy in Kabul and send back the ambassador.”

    “We must remember that the people of Afghanistan have great love for India. Pakistan is not popular with the people of Afghanistan, India is. That we must remember. Our development works have also been appreciated,” he said.

    Organisations dubbed as terror groups have occupied the highest offices in the past and have changed, he noted, saying that India should wait to see how the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan pans out.

    To dismiss always is to turn your face from reality, he said.

     

  • Jennifer Aniston urges fans to donate for Afghan refugees amid crisis

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: The battle to stop the ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan still continues unabated. Expressing her concerns for the women and other refugees stuck in the crisis, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston urged fans to donate and help the needy.

    Taking to her Instagram Stories, the ‘Friends’ alum raised concerns for women’s safety amid the crisis. By sharing a few posts, she amplified the resources that can help Afghan girls, women activists, and other refugees.

    In her first Instagram Story, Aniston shared Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai’s article that seeks the need to reach out to Afghan women. Sharing the article, the Emmy award-winning actor wrote, “This is a devastating step backward for women and girls in Afghanistan.”

    In other stories, Aniston shared posts to aware people of the process and portal where they can donate for the Afghan crisis. Aniston wrote, “Let’s get these women and their families out ASAP…”

    Several Hollywood celebrities including Bette Midler, Sophia Bush, George Takei, and Rosanna Arquette among others also took to their social media handles to express sorrow for the people of Afghanistan.

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had earlier also addressed the crisis on their Archewell website, urging their followers to help.

    Reacting to the situation, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote, “As an international community, it is the decisions we make now — to alleviate suffering among those we know and those we may never meet — that will prove our humanity.”

    The statement further read, “We encourage everybody across the Invictus network – and the wider military community – to reach out to each other and offer support for one another.”

    For the unversed, Taliban insurgents entered Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday, bringing the Islamist militants close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a US-led invasion. 

  • Govt has to tell people there’s evacuation plan, says journalist Kanika Gupta

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI:  Kanika Gupta was reporting from Kabul when the Taliban took over on August 15. An independent journalist who writes human stories from conflict zones, Kanika was airlifted in a special aircraft by the Indian government on Tuesday. In a telephonic interview, she tells TNIE about Kabul’s fall, the commotion, evacuation and  the distraught Afghans.

    When did you think Kabul’s fall was imminent?

    Sunday morning, we heard that Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, has fallen. It is not very far from Kabul. We kept getting updates. After a couple of hours, we heard the Taliban were within the city limits. When they reached places like Paghman, we knew they were basically inside the city. The news was declared on radio, triggering commotion. People started running in panic. It only took an hour or so for President Ghani to step down.

    How did you all prepare?

    I was scared. The Indian community I was in touch with were relatively calmer, based on assurances from the Taliban that none would be hurt. We were in touch with each other. I was trying to get in touch with the Embassy, but they were inundated with phone calls. They did not have an idea what to do and instructed us to stay put. At that point, officials did not have an evacuation plan. We were basically banding together as a community and figuring out what is the best to avoid panicking. As journalists, we put a lot of pressure on the Indian government to put us on an evacuation flight.

    ALSO READ: Taliban asks India to finish infrastructure projects 

    How helpful were the Indian authorities?

    Ever since the evacuation process began and till I was brought back to India, officials were helpful and careful. For that part, I will commend them. But, my beef with the government was, I had to pull a lot of strings to get us there. Without that our evacuation would not have been possible. As of now, there are 500 civilians stuck in Afghanistan. Many of their passports are with their employers. This is crisis upon crisis.

    Are you getting SOS requests?

    I am flooded with calls. People are asking to somehow make the help reach them. I am asking for details and telling them I will do what I can. As a civilian journalist, I am trying to help as much as I can. But, the government is not responsive, at least till I left. At least, they have to tell people a plan is in place. This will give them confidence. Till the time I left, there was radio silence from the government, whose priority was to evacuate diplomats.

  • Taliban’s moderate face aimed at legitimacy: Experts

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:   Ever since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the widespread feeling was it would impose strict Sharia law. However, in a surprising turn of events, the Taliban has seemingly presented a moderate face. Their spokesperson was seen interacting with a woman journalist on live TV and they also announced general amnesty for government officials.

    Experts are still divided over this so called new avatar of the Taliban. While a few say the change is genuine and a bid for legitimacy, others say the group’s association with extremism and human rights violations cannot be ignored.

    “The Taliban’s commitment to extremist frameworks is well known. The scale of human rights violations in the run-up to the takeover of Kabul cannot be brushed under the carpet based on a few statements. Therefore, the talk of Taliban softening stand is premature,” said Sanjay Pulipaka, senior fellow at Delhi Policy Group.

    ALSO READ: Ashraf Ghani says ‘in talks to return’ to Afghanistan after fleeing to UAE

    Russia-based analyst Andrew Korybko, however, had a different take. He said the gradual change in the group’s functioning was not taken seriously. “But its latest press conference shows it is at least very serious about signalling its intent to change. The optics certainly help to build the case for its legitimacy as Afghanistan’s de facto rulers, but there’s also a pragmatic dimension to it. The group knows it can’t sustain its rule if it doesn’t change its style. Its prior history of leadership over 90 per cent of Afghanistan for half a decade taught it some valuable lessons in this respect,” he said.

    A researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who did not wish to be named, pointed out the Taliban is wary of social media because any atrocity it commits would be out in the open through these platforms. “Hence, they are careful about what they are doing or at least about what they are portraying to the world, especially at a time when their legitimacy is at stake. It is very plausible that the Taliban could go back to its old ways once it is recognised by powerful nations,” said the researcher.

    Korybko is of the opinion that the militant group is also showing a new avatar in a bid to integrate Afghanistan into the region. “To this end, the Taliban must present themselves as respectable and responsible leaders in order to not scare away regional partners like Russia, China and Iran. It must convince them it will respect minorities’ and women’s rights and will not do anything that could potentially threaten their trade and investments through and within Afghanistan,” he added.

  • Would like to go back to Kabul to teach when situation normalises, says Pune-based teacher on return

    By PTI

    PUNE: When Dr Parag Rabade started teaching at colleges in Kabul in 2014, he used to get scared of the sound of bomb blasts, which made him think of returning to India, but soon he got used to it and decided to stay put in order to educate the students there.

    However, earlier this week, he was left with no other option but to leave the war-ravaged country and return to India as Taliban insurgents swept into the Afghanistan capital on Sunday after the government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani left the country.

    Rabade, 52, who has done a doctorate in computer science and management, was working in Afghanistan as part of a World Bank project, and started teaching in Kabul-based private colleges and other educational institutes eight years ago.

    He was among the Indians, who were brought back to the country in a special plane earlier this week.

    The Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

    Unprecedented scenes were witnessed in the Afghan capital, where panic-stricken people are scurrying to escape from the country.

    “Monday was very difficult. We kept getting information from the Indian embassy about the developments. However, Taliban reached Kabul earlier than expected. After that, I went to the airport, where I saw that everybody was scared. so was I. And when I was told that there is no plane at that time, it was left with no other option but to go to the embassy office,” he said on his return to Pune, his hometown.

    There was a curfew-like situation and everything was shut.

    When I reached the embassy office, many others were already there, he said.

    “Later, an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane reached Kabul, through which we 143 Indians and office-bearers and defence personnel returned to India,” he said.

    Talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Rabade said, “When I went there in 2014, I used to get scared after hearing bomb blasts. However, later he got used to it. Initially I thought of returning to India, but then I thought of educating students there and decided to stay.”

    Initially, around 30 per cent of the students were girls, but by 2020 this number increased to almost 50 per cent, he said.

    “Parents were allowing girls to get educated. Now I hope that Taliban will also let girls take education,” he said.

    Rabade also said that if given a chance I would like to return there to teach.

    “Over the years, I learned Persian language. So communication with the locals was not an issue. Now, students text me about uncertainty, but I try to give some positivity to themm. My family members are saying that they won’t let me go to Afghanistan now. But I wish that when the situation is back to normal, I want to go and continue teaching there,” he added.

  • Samajwadi MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq booked for sedition after remarks defending Taliban

    By PTI

    SAMBHAL: Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq has been booked for sedition following his recent remarks allegedly defending the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and equating it with India”s own freedom struggle, police said on Wednesday.

    He was charged under Indian Penal Code section 124A (sedition) following a complaint from BJP leader Rajesh Singhal on Tuesday, Superintendent of Police Chakresh Mishra said.

    Following registration of the case, Barq on Wednesday said he was quoted out of context and wrong charges have been levelled against him.

    “I am with the policies of India,” he said.

    Singhal in his complaint said that Barq’s “controversial statement comes in the category of sedition”, he said.

    The MP has been also booked under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Mishra said.

    Besides Barq, two others — Mohammad Muqueem and Chaudhary Faizan, have also been booked under these sections, the officer said, adding that the matter is being probed.

    Following the Sambhal MP’s remarks, Samajwadi Party (SP) workers Muqueem and Faizan posted material on social media in support of the Taliban, according to the FIR.

    Responding to questions from reporters on Monday, Lok Sabha member Barq had said the Taliban wanted to free their country and it was Afghanistan’s internal matter.

    He had called the Taliban a force that did not allow Russia or the United States to establish themselves in Afghanistan, “and now they want to run their own country”.

    The MP had said that when India was under British Rule, the entire country fought for independence.

    “They want to be free. This is their personal matter. How can we interfere?” the SP legislator had said on developments in Afghanistan.

    Endorsing the Taliban takeover, Barq had said the Afghans want to run their own country in the manner they wanted.”

    The remarks drew sharp criticism from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    In the state legislative council, the chief minister on Tuesday slammed the opposition MP.

    “He was shamelessly supporting the Taliban. It means supporting their barbaric act. We are a parliamentary democracy. Where are we heading? We are supporting people who are a blot on humanity,” the CM added.

    Asked to comment on the MP”s remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said he had not personally heard them.

    “But if this type of statement has been given then there is no difference between that person and Imran Khan.”

    Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday had appeared to endorse the Taliban”s takeover of Kabul, saying Afghanistan has broken the “shackles of slavery”.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Barq said, “I have not given any such type of statement, and this is wrong. I was asked questions and I said what connection do I have with the Taliban. I cannot speak on this. Whatever be the policies of my country, I will be with it.”

    “I have nothing to do with the Taliban. I am not a resident of that place (Afghanistan). Who am I to comment on the Taliban? Why should I give my opinion. I was quoted out of context,” he said Asked about the charges levelled against him, Barq said, “Let the case be registered.

    “The allegations levelled against me are completely false. I have not given any such type of statement. Neither I am with the Taliban nor I have praised them nor I have anything to do with them. I am interested in the policies of India and I am with India.”

    He said that the Taliban belongs to Afghanistan and it is the country’s internal matter.

    “I am a voter of India, and I am concerned about India, and its policies,” Barq said.