Srinagar 17 August (KNB): As the Taliban topples the Afghan government after takeover of the capital Kabul on Sunday, sending its shock waves to the neighbouring countries, Retd Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain says ready to handle fallout of Afghan events.
The Taliban held sway in Afghanistan by securing one city after another and left US troops, who were hunting down the insurgents there following the 9/11 attack, to bite the dust.
The situation in Afghanistan grew more fraught when the Taliban closed in on Kabul and took control of it, forcing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his close aides to flee the country. The same modus operandi was replicated by Afghan nationals later to board the planes by flocking to the airport, resulting in total mayhem.
However, India seems to be concerned regarding the turn of events in Afghanistan, forcing some to express their concerns on social media. To prove it, a couple of lines from RSS member Ram Madhav’s tweet reads that “India should brace up for serious security challenges… the immediate threat is for India.” Another BJP MP, Subramanian Swamy, as per reports, has even also said that the Taliban, Pakistan and China would attack India in a year.
Regarding the Taliban’s conquest of Afghanistan and its likely impact on India as well as Kashmir, Retd Lt. General Syed Ata Hasnain, Former GOC 15 Corps, said, “We are much more experienced and far better prepared to handle the fallout of events in Afghanistan in 2021 than in 1989.”
“Yet this does not absolve us from doing a constant review and reappraisal of the potential negativities that may flow from the current situation in Kabul. And this should not necessarily be defensive only,” advised Hasnain, adding, “a pro-active and unshackled approach, keeping all options open should be our strategy.”
On Monday, a day after overwhelming Kabul, the Taliban Spokesperson said its fighters do not harm anyone’s life, property, or honour and said no one could enter anyone’s house without permission. This infers to reining in the Taliban insurgents unlike in its past and a step towards garnering Afghan people’s trust.
Regarding the Taliban leaders’ efforts to rationalize Afghanistan’s status quo and their statements implying a peaceful roadmap ahead, Hasnain said “Taliban is not a monolith. There are tribal and ethnic groups within. A uniform policy and strategy with all on board is not likely to be achieved so quickly. Thus contradictions are very likely which will affect the credibility of what some well meaning leaders are stating.”
“I do anticipate some internecine struggles within the Taliban which will weaken it,” said Hasnain. (KNB)