India 'consciously' granted visa to former Taliban leader: Report
Indian foreign ministry has claimed that it was not consulted about the visit of the Taliban leader.
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.
NEW DELHI:
India’s decision to grant visa to the Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Salam Zareef has triggered the speculation that whether Indian government is exploring its options in Afghanistan in the post US and NATO withdrawal scenario in 2014, Times of India reported.
"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.
India’s decision to grant visa to the Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Salam Zareef has triggered the speculation that whether Indian government is exploring its options in Afghanistan in the post US and NATO withdrawal scenario in 2014, Times of India reported.
"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.