The Taliban has said it appreciates India for helping Afghan people and praised New Delhi’s reconstruction activities in war-torn Afghanistan.

Speaking exclusively to news agency ANI, Taliban Spokesperson Muhammed Suhail Shaheen said that India has been helping the Afghan people or national projects.

“We appreciate everything that has been done for people of Afghanistan like dams, national and infrastructure projects and anything that’s for Afghanistan’s development, reconstruction and economic prosperity for people,” he said.

No ties with Pakistan-based terror groups: Taliban

He further denied that the Taliban has ties with Pakistan-based terror groups calling the allegations “baseless”.

“They are not based on ground realities but on basis of their certain policies towards us, on the basis of politically motivated goals,” he added.

After a series of decisive Taliban victories in Afghanistan, many countries have started closing their embassies in the region. From the United States to Denmark, several western countries have started evacuating their staff from the war-torn country.

Now, the Taliban has assured them that there is no danger from their side to diplomats and embassy staff.

Shaheen told ANI that they won’t target any embassy or diplomat.

‘There is no danger from our side to embassies and diplomats’

“There is no danger from our side to embassies and diplomats. We won’t target any embassy or diplomat. We’ve said that in our statements many times. It is our commitment,” Muhammed Suhail Shaheen told ANI.

On being asked if the Taliban can assure India that Afghan soil will not be used against it, the spokesperson said that it follows a general policy of not allowing anyone to use Afghan soil against any country including the neighbouring nations.

When asked about reports of Indian officials meeting the Taliban in Doha, the spokesperson said that he can’t confirm that.

“There were reports about the Indian delegation meeting our delegation, but I can’t confirm that. According to my information, the separate meeting hasn’t happened but yesterday we had a meeting in Doha, in which an Indian delegation also participated,” he added.

‘Indian military presence in Afghanistan not acceptable’

On removal of Nishan Sahib from a Gurudwara in Afghanistan’s Paktia, he claimed that the religious flag was removed by the Sikh community themselves.

“When our security officials went there, they said that if the flag is seen, someone will harass them. Our people assured them and they hoisted it again,” he said.

The Taliban also made it clear that it is against Indian military presence in the war-ravaged country.

“If they (India) come to Afghanistan militarily and have their presence, I think that will not be good for them. They’ve seen the fate of military presence in Afghanistan of other countries, so it is an open book for them,” he added.