Not a worry for India: Ex-Diplomat on Taliban taking over Afghanistan

Former diplomat Talmiz Ahmad termed as 'absolute rubbish' some people expressing the view that India will be "jeopardised" if the Taliban gains total control of Afghanistan.

Bengaluru: The Taliban taking over Afghanistan is not a cause for worry for India, an ex-Diplomat said on Tuesday. The former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Talmiz Ahmad also argued that New Delhi has no role in Afghanistan at present, and dismissed suggestions that India should engage with the Taliban. He termed as 'absolute rubbish' some people expressing the view that India will be "jeopardised" if the Taliban gains total control of Afghanistan. "The Taliban is a national movement and they want to control Afghanistan but they have no interest outside Afghanistan," Ahmad told PTI in a telephonic interview. He said it's Pakistan which maintains a very tight control over movement of extremists into India for more than 30 years and continues to do so. "I don't see that situation changing only because the Taliban are in control in Afghanistan", Ahmad said.