We have right to raise voice for Muslims in Kashmir, say Taliban

In a matter of concern for India, the Taliban — the terror group that tookover Afghanistan last month — have said that they has the right to raise their voice for Muslims anywhere, including in Kashmir. This comes days after the terror group’s Haqqani network had said that it was for an amicable relationship with India, pledging not to interfere in the Kashmir issue.

In an interview with BBC Urdu, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said: “We have this right, being Muslims, to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India, and any other country.”

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A few day back, Anas Haqqani, the Taliban leader and scion of Afghanistan’s feared Haqqani Network has called for a friendly relationship with India and had pledged that it would not interfere in Kashmir. “Kashmir is not part of our jurisdiction and interference is against the policy,” Haqqani told CNNNews18.

Rejecting accusations of terrorism against the the group controlled by his family, Haqqani  promised to provide complete security to all Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.

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On Thursday, in an interview with BBC Urdu, Shaheen said, “We will raise our voice and say that Muslims are your own people, your own citizens. They are entitled to equal rights under your laws,” he added, according to Geo News.

In India’s first official interaction with the Taliban, India had sought an assurance from the group that Afghan soil will not be used for anti-India activities. The meeting –between country’s Ambassador in Qatar, Deepak Mittal and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office — took place at the Indian embassy in Doha. Among the things discussed were issues of safety, security, return of Indians from Afghanistan and permission for Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit India.

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Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, India is keeping a close watch on developments in Kashmir.  “There will be increased security vigil in Kashmir but things are in control and Pakistan based groups in Afghanistan have little capacity to use the situation,” government sources told ANI last month.

There is a general concern that Pakistan spy agency ISI, which shares good relations with Taliban, may try to foment trouble in Kashmir.

Post-Taliban takeover, Intelligence agencies say at least six groups of terrorists have infiltrated the Kashmir Valley with some high value targets on their agenda, reports ndtv.

Evidence on ground shows the level of violence in Jammu and  Kashmir has gone up significantly over the last month.

“Every day for the last one month, either an IED attack on security forces or attacks on political leaders are being reported,” a senior official told NDTV.