Modi Govt Can Hold Talks With Taliban But Not J&K: Omar Abdullah
The MEA had said India’s participation at the Moscow meet with the Afghan Taliban will be at a “non-official level”.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah lashed out at the Modi government on Thursday, 8 November, for its decision to attend a multilateral meeting with the Afghan Taliban in Moscow.
Drawing parallels with the conflict in Kashmir, Abdullah asked why the Modi government was willing to hold ‘non-official’ talks with the Taliban, but it had refused to hold dialogue with “non-mainstream” stakeholders in J&K to discuss the state’s “eroded autonomy”.
India will attend the meeting, which is expected to discuss issues related to Afghanistan on Friday, 9 November, in an unofficial capacity.
‘Why Not Hold Talks with J&K Stakeholders?’
Abdullah questioned that if India, for the first time, was willing to hold talks for peace in Afghanistan with a globally proclaimed terrorist organisation, then why would it turn a deaf ear for pleas to hold similar talks in J&K.
MEA Clarifies Meeting in Moscow
The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Friday, 9 November, clarified the government’s stand on attending the meeting in Moscow, Russia. He said at a press conference if any process is consistent with our policy on Afghanistan then India will be a part of it.
“We have made it clear already that out participation is at a non-official level,” he added.
The Meeting in Moscow
Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said: “India supports all efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country.”
He also said that according to India's policy, the government believed that efforts for peace should be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the government of Afghanistan.”
This is the first time that India will sit for a meeting with the Taliban in attendance. Amar Sinha, Former Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry who had also served as India's Ambassador to Afghanistan, and TCA Raghavan, Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, will represent Delhi in the meeting.
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