The external affairs ministry on Thursday sought to downplay the first official contact with the Taliban when asked if it was a step closer to recognising the group, which India had always considered a terrorist outfit and refused to engage with diplomatically when it controlled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.
Asked whether Tuesday’s meeting between India’s ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal and senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammed Stanekzai signified that India had taken a step towards recognising the group, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: “Let’s treat the Doha meeting for what it is. It’s just a meeting. These are still very early days.”
According to Bagchi, India used the meeting sought by the Taliban to convey New Delhi’s concerns.
“Our primary immediate concern is that the Afghan soil should not be used for anti-India activities and terrorism. Our focus is on that,” he said, adding that he has no information on whether there will be more meetings with the Taliban.
On whether India has a road map for talks or will talk to the Taliban whenever it approaches New Delhi, Bagchi was non-committal.
Asked if India still considers Taliban a terrorist organisation, Bagchi sidestepped attempts to elicit a categorical response.
The Taliban is yet to comment on the meeting though the group has in the past announced its meetings with representatives of other governments.
Neither side has issued a photograph of the meeting. Asked about this, Bagchi said: “It just didn’t happen. It’s just a meeting. It wasn’t that sort of a meeting where photos are taken. Don’t think there was any thought to it.”
On why the Taliban wanted the meeting, he said: “I presume they would like to reach out to all countries that have an interest and are relevant in this.”