Sushma avoids reference to Taliban at meet

Addressing the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia Ministerial Process in Islamabad on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made repeated references to Afghanistan’s battle against terrorism, but she avoided mentioning the Taliban or its support structure.

Ms.Swaraj said, “In the last few months, terrorism in Afghanistan has grown in both intensity and scope. Terrorists have made concerted efforts to capture and hold territory, reminding us that they have not changed.” Apart from the fleeting reference to terrorism, Ms.Swaraj’s speech focused largely on trade and connectivity.

The omission of Taliban has raised eyebrows in Delhi’s diplomatic circles. A prominent Indian diplomat requesting anonymity told

The Hindu that Ms. Swaraj could have made “an oblique reference to the support that the Taliban receives from Pakistani state agencies because India also has to keep in mind its commitments to Afghanistan.”