KABUL – The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has suggested that Indiashould also engage with the Taliban group besides the existing engagementon government-to-government level with Afghanistan.
Karzai has made the remarks during an exclusive interview with India’s TheHindu newspaper, Khaama Press has reported.
“India can play a role at different levels at the same time. We understandits position to engage with the government of the day in Kabul. But Indiais also a friend of the Afghan people, and the Taliban are part of theAfghan people. They are a part of the reality,” Karzai has said.
He also added “My proposal to India is that they must engage with theTaliban, as well as the government. Tomorrow if through a peace deal, theTaliban becomes a part of the government, then India will have to deal withthem.”
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The former President has also said “Our expectation is that India shouldalways have its own policy towards Afghanistan,link as apart of anyone else’s. The United States has suddenly begun to speak ofpeace and reconciliation efforts and the need to engage with the Talibanand re-engage with Pakistan.”
