India Should Exercise Caution In Its Engagements With Taliban: Former Diplomats

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Press Club of India, former diplomat Gautam Mukhopadhyay said "a false narrative" is being built to project the Taliban as different from what the world saw in Afghanistan two decades ago.

India should keep diplomatic channels open for talks with the Taliban, but move very cautiously towards legitimising it, former diplomat Gautam Mukhopadhyay said on Friday. Speaking at a discussion organised by the Press Club of India, he said "a false narrative" is being built to project the Taliban as different from what the world saw in Afghanistan two decades ago. "We must talk to them. That is diplomacy.... We should be very careful in legitimising the Taliban," he said. Mr Mukhopadhyay said the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban will have an "inspirational effect" all across the world.