Taliban chief Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai has stated the organization desires to keep Afghanistan’s political, monetary and cultural ties with India, the first time a member of the Taliban’s pinnacle hierarchy has spoken on the issue since the takeover of Kabul.
In an almost 46-minute video published at the Taliban’s social media systems on Saturday, Stanekzai spoke considerably in Pashto at the end of the conflict in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s plans for forming Islamic administration based on Shariah. He additionally spoke about the Taliban’s perspectives on relations with key countries withinside the region, which includes India, Pakistan, China and Russia.
Since the Taliban assumed power in Kabul after the fall apart of the Ashraf Ghani authorities on August 15, the organization’s spokesmen Suhail Shaheen and Zabiullah Mujahid have spoken to the Pakistani media about the organization’s perspectives on relations with India.
However, Stanekzai is the first senior chief to make an assertion on relations with different countries.
“India is very important for this subcontinent. We want to continue our cultural, economic and trade ties with India like in the past,” Stanekzai said.
“Trade with India through Pakistan is very important for us. With India, trade through air corridors will also remain open,” he said, outlining the Taliban’s plans for trade in the region.
However, he didn’t say whether trade via India should be two-way. Pakistan has allowed Afghan traders to ship their goods to India through its territory but has never permitted Indian goods to be transported via Pakistani soil to Afghanistan.