Why did India open a backchannel to the Taliban?
Al Jazeera
Recent developments in the region forced India to rethink its approach to the armed group.
In a crucial policy shift, India recently acknowledged that it entered into backchannel communications with the Taliban in Afghanistan. In early June, the Indian media reported that New Delhi has started talking to certain factions and leaders of the armed group against the backdrop of the withdrawal of the United States forces from Afghanistan. A few days later, India’s Ministry of External Affairs all but confirmed these reports, stating that “we are in touch with various stakeholders … in pursuance of our long-term commitment towards development and reconstruction of Afghanistan”. The Taliban’s Quetta-based leadership and Qatari officials have also confirmed these backchannel meetings.More Related News