No Taliban fighters have been reported in India's Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory since the group retook power in Kabul in August 2021, India's chief army commander in the region was quoted as saying by local media on Thursday.
General Commanding Officer (GOC) of India's Kashmir-based Chinar Corps Lieutenant General A D S Aujla's comments dispelled concerns that the Taliban planned to send an influx of fighters to the Kashmir Valley following their return to the helm in Afghanistan.
Chinar Corps currently commands around 30,000 soldiers and is based in Srinagar. It conducts anti-insurgency missions in the Kashmir Valley.
The lieutenant general added that despite speculation and rumors in Pakistan-held Kashmir about Taliban fighters attacking Indian military installations, it never materialized.
"As far as the apprehensions post-Taliban 2.0, we could see the manifestations [of concern] on this side [outside of the region] as well in Kashmir, but it [the influx] never happened," Lt. Gen. Aujla told reporters. "So, there was no infiltration of any Afghani Taliban... To that effect, we have been able to control [things]," the Indian Army's top commander in Kashmir added.
India Boosts Ties With Kabul
Lt. Gen. Aujla's remarks followed an Afghanistan-based publication suggesting that India has allegedly pushed Pakistan out of Kabul through soft power.
A report in Khaama Press stated that Delhi has increased its cooperation with the Taliban and is now a major supplier of humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation.
After previously sending 50,000 metric tons of wheat, a new consignment of 20,000 metric tons is scheduled to reach Afghanistan through Iran's Chabahar Port in the coming months.
India's wheat donation is vital for Afghanistan to feed millions of its citizens.
Before the Taliban government grabbed power, 80% of Afghanistan's economy was dependent on foreign aid, including cereals like wheat for consumption from overseas.
*under UN sanctions for terrorism