Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef, a close associate of Taliban chief Mullah Omar, attended the Think Fest in Goa: a high brow event where Union ministers were also present.
"It was a conscious decision to facilitate his visa due to certain considerations," said sources in the ministry of home affairs which was instrumental in the controversial decision.
The decision by the Indian government has led many to believe that it is considering talking to the fundamentalist group in the near future.
According to the source in the home ministry, the decision to grant Mullah Zareef visa was not an oversight and the intelligence agencies were very much in the loop.
Zaeef, a close associate of Taliban chief Mullah Omar, attended the Think Fest in Goa: a high brow event where Indian ministers were also present.
Indian foreign ministry though claimed that it was not consulted about the visit of the Taliban leader.
The peace process has stalled after Pakistan had released former Taliban commander Mullah Baradar but have kept him under watch, which the Taliban claimed had discouraged them from making contact and kick-starting talks.
Pakistan had released Mullah Baradar in September on the insistence of Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly said it supports an Afghan led, Afghan owned peace process in the war torn country.
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There is nothing wrong if India engages Afghan Taliban as it is only doing development work in Afghanistan and interested in exploration which can boost country's economy. Moreover, most of the Afghanis love India which Taliban can ill afford to overlook. However, it may cause a great heart burn to Pakistan especially its military who are in for a surprise as both Talibans are likely to combine to impose Sharia in Pakistan which would create unprecedented violence in the country.
@Khan Lala: It is indeed interesting to see the U-turn in both the American and Indian rhetoric recently. It is hard to believe that this is the same group which they maligned so much in 2001 as the enemy of all civilization as we know it.
India's persistent anti-Pukhtoon policies in Afghanistan have caught the eyes of everyone, esp the Taliban. They are not so easy to buy like the TTP, BLA, and MQM, along with India's other terrorist proxies which it is using against Pakistan and Pakistani civilians.
Pakistan's assessment of the whole failed Afghan adventure has proven right, to the letter. The Taliban have emerged stronger, more entrenched in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's proxy government is already falling to pieces, before the foreign invaders have even left. The US has completely failed to accomplish any of its goals, and have damaged their economy, military, and international prestige in the process. India has used the war against Afghanistan to gain a foothold (no matter how fleeting) to use to launch bomb attacks against Pakistan's economy and civilian infrastructure.
By and large, the major victims of this war have been Pukhtoons, on both sides of the border, who are bearing the brunt of ethnic genocide in Afghanistan, and proxy bomb attacks by anti-Pakistan forces in Pakistan.
@ Naveen
Things have changed in Afghanistan and Abdul Salam Zaeef is a pragmatic, articulate and flexible person who has accepted and adapted to these changes in order to find some legitimacy among Afghans.
@ Raj-USA. You have a given a very fair picture of India and Indians. Richard Nixon had hard time with American Ambassadors posted in India. He found them more Indian than American. (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-18/us/431771001kissinger-new-book-us-president-richard-nixon). India has survived because of her soft power all through last 1000 years. With suppressive Islamic rule and the Christian rule, we could still remain a majority Hindu India. Bollywood music and dance has penetrated almost all countries in the world. Yoga has gone all over. Our festivals are now celebrated even by non-Hindus in USA and Europe. Holi celebrations in USA and Europe are being very popular. Average Arab loves an Indian many times more than a Pakistani.
Pakistan should invest more in soft power than in spreading radical Islam.
Once again Indian hypocrisy is at display. They keep calling Taliban as evil. But when it suits them they take a U TURN and embrace the devil. At least Indians should lay off of Pakistan.
Let me bring another dimension to this.
As I said in the starting line of my first comment, my first reaction was that I did not like it.
Now the other dimension.
India is a charming and mesmerizing country. It is the people of India who make it so. India has its problems like filthy roads, lack of toilets, millions living on the street, slums, etc. But, the Indians on the whole are lively, sane, spiritual and splendid; displaying all shades. India has changed a lot in the last 30 years. During Morarji Desa's tenure, US President Carter was heard saying that the Indians are adamant and that the US should give hin (Morarji Desai) "Cold and Blunt". Then we also saw how President Clinton was furious when India went nuclear and imposed strict sanctions on India. The same Clinton later when he realized what India really is went to India with his wife and daughter and the entire family was dancing and celebrating Holi in India. Obama had child friend in Pakistan and has visited Pakistan also on vacation and even stayed with his Pakistani friend. Yet, Obama is friendly from his heart towards India and Indians and we all know about his telephone call to Zardari and Kayani after he took out OBL.
The same way when Abdul Salam Zareef gets to know more of India and Indians, he may become cordial and friendly towards India and Indians. Karzai, though he stayed in Pakistan longer than he stayed in India, is friendly towards India and not so towards Pakistan. The summary: the more anyone visits India, travels around India, and interacts with Indians the friendlier they shall become and they shall be mesmerized, despite all the poverty and slums they may see in India. They also see and start to like the lively humans as in the "Slum Dog Millionaire". Can anyone say this for "Saving the Face"? The opposite holds true for Pakistan.
India is making a mistake. These self-righteous lunatics are too dangerous to let live let alone work with. Thinking of using them as pawns is stupidity as we Pakistanis have learned. He should be stuffed into a sack and thrown into the sea off Goa.
Taliban getting visa to Goa!! bad bad taliban.
How were the beaches :D
What type of fantasy do these Indian commentators on ET articles live in? They never let go of an opportunity to call Pakistan a sponsor of terror. And now when they are presented with the same opportunity claim "it's in their best interest." Hypocrisy is Astounding
@happens: Pakistan is laughing actually!
I totally believe you sir, since Pakistan exists in a parallel universe where everything is in reverse,
Where terrorist can become martyrs, Where murderers are showered with rose petals, Where the country provides protection to its nukes and not the other way around. Where India started all wars with Pakistan, where the world needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs the world.
Shortly after 9/11, this guy was arrested while living in Pakistan, stripped naked, and handed over to the Americans complete with a flag ceremony. All while the Pakistani soldiers were laughing at him.
@ Modi Enlighten us, what is coming after the NATO withdrawal in Afghanistan?
@Zalmai: Hmm.. You are largely right. Afghanistan is a changed place now. One should not read too much into this visa grant. Zaeef is a very special case and lives openly - if you're an Afghan,you'll be knowing about his background better than I. He has been going around the world for quite some time (even had a holiday in Scotland). Even in case of India, it is not his first visit.
@ Alann
I didn't know the Talibanis were contesting the upcoming elections. The Taliban are done my friend. They might accomodate Abdul Salam Zaeef by giving him a role as an ambassador or a ministry, but that will be the extent of the power sharing arrangement.
@Raj - USA: LOL, You have amazing imagination. As for Airspace violation, that is between us and Iran. Why are Indians so worried?
@Hafiz: Pakistan is laughing actually!
This is bad to taste but good for India's health... And bad news for Pakistan...
India making sure that in future they don't interfare in Kashmir please hahahaha
A masterstroke played by the Afghans eliminated Nasiruddin Haqqani and sent an emissary to India, in the same week.
Foolish India even don't know what's coming after NATO withdrawal. Indians will try to ride anything to run out of Afghanistan
Article should also tell the readers that Mullaha Zareef was the last ambassador of Afghanistan (under Taliban) in Pakistan. He was handed over to Americans despite the fact that he had diplomatic status and Pakistan (under Musharaf) had obligation to protect him and his staff. How much this guy hates Pakistan is evident from his book.
Game is on. Watch out Pakistan.
I don't like this. But, it is India's tit-for-tat for Pakistan sheltering Hafiz Saeed and Sartaj Aziz inviting Kashmir separatist leaders for meeting in Delhi. It was Pakistan that tried to use the Afghan talibans against India. ISI hijacked the commercial aircraft of Indian Airlines from Kathmandu and took it to Kandahar to free three terrorists from Indian custody. ISI has used Afghanistan as its strategic depth. So, India has to protect its interests. Pakistan's actions have made it necessary for India to cultivate ties with some taliban groups. They have been nurturing and supporting the talibans to wage proxy war on India. However, it is a very risky move by India and consequences cannot be seen now. In any case, talibans are far better than Pakistan.
In another news Iran's helicopters have violated Pakistan's airspace also. Had only Pakistan taken off all talibans much earlier and not sheltered them, it would have been much better for Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Iran, and even for China. It is also possible that India is working in coordination with Iran, Afghanistan and China.
Are they bypassing Pak? Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pak, India, etc. Where are these guys not able to travel to?
Good decision by India. Afghan Taliban will be the upcoming power in Afghanistan after withdrawal of NATO troops. And it is beneficial to India to have better relations with the Afghan Talibanis. Even in the past, there has never been any attack on Indian workers or consulates or doctors working in Afghanistan by the Afghan Taliban. It always was initiated by their "brothers" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, most of the attacks being found to be funded by ISI (as per investigations not just by India, but also by US).
Pakistan, meanwhile, will be busy calling terrorists 'martyrs' and crying "Kashmir!" everywhere and destroying itself from within, by playing a duel game with every single neighbour- India, Afghanistan, Iran, China, and even US.
pakistanis must not cry for this. its india's internal matter.
THIS is total insanity,i dont get a simple fact that how can you talk to a regime which was responsible for IC-814 incident,the same regime gave a call of jihad against INDIA and lot of our military man had to laid down there lives.This demands a serious explanation and NEHRU DYNASTY will have a lot of explaining to do,does MHA was sleeping,what was RAW doing,how can they allow this barbarian who has indian blood on his hand to land in GOA.
Indian Express gives better description as to why he was granted visa.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/intel-agencies-facilitated-taliban-leaders-visa-says-home-ministry/1194347/