Taliban leader Anas Haqqani on Tuesday called invader Mahmud Ghaznavi, who attacked India’s prestigious Somnath Temple multiple times, a ‘renowned Muslim warrior.’ Anas Haqqani is the younger brother of Taliban’s new Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani of the infamous ‘Haqqani Network.’

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The Taliban leader made the statements in a tweet he shared on Tuesday from his visit to the shrine of Mahmud Ghaznavi. The Taliban militant not just glorified but lauded the invader for establishing a ‘strong Islamic rule in the region’ and ‘smashing the idol of Somnath’. He added that his shrine had ‘honoured and inspired’ the Taliban with values of freedom, pride and courage.

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“Today, we visited the shrine of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, a renowned Muslim warrior & Mujahid of the 10th century. Ghaznavi (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) established a strong Muslim rule in the region from Ghazni & smashed the idol of Somnath,” Anas Haqqani wrote on Twitter with a picture of Ghanznavi’s tomb alongside the post. 

Here’s the tweet!

Several internet users, including BJP leader Kapil Mishra, condemned the statements by the Taliban leader and reminded him that the Somnath Temple is still standing tall while the land of Ghazni is barren and ruined by poverty and war.

Mahmud Ghaznavi was the first independent ruler of the Turkic dynasty of Ghaznavids, who ruled the region from 998 to 1030 AD.

As per historical documents, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the Hindhu Somnath temple, situated in Gujarat 17 times, and finally ransacked it in 1024 AD. According to historians, Ghaznavi specifically targeted Hindu temples, since they were the centres of wealth, economy and ideology for the Hindus.

The looted Somnath temple was rebuilt after India’s independence under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s restoration initiative.

Anas Haqqani was a member of the Taliban’s negotiation team in its political office in Doha.

The Haqqani Network and the Taliban came closer during the 1990s, and this time too, the dreaded terror group is part of the government led by the Taliban. In fact, Sirajuddin Haqqani – a global terrorist – heads Afghanistan’s interior ministry.