Taliban praises India for not yielding to US pressure

Commending India for stoutly resisting US pressure for greater involvement in Afghanistan, the Taliban said India had done well to have not given in to the US. This comes as a rare direct comment about one of the strongest opponents of the hardline Islamist group that was ousted from power in 2001.

The Taliban also said Afghanistan would not be allowed to be used as a base to conduct activities against any country, addressing fears in New Delhi that the return to power of Taliban would embolden Pakistan-based anti-Indian groups.

The Afghan Taliban have  had close links with Pakistan based anti- India groups and the soft line towards its arch rival India is being seen as the beginning of a shift in its stance.

Direct talks with the US,  which now stand suspended, coupled with an agreement to open a Taliban office in Qatar to conduct formal peace talks are being seen as signs of a more assertive approach by the Taliban.

US defense secretary Leon Panetta, this month sought to encourage India to take a more active role in Afghanistan as most foreign combat troops are set to be recslled in 2014. According to the Taliban, Panetta had failed in enlisting India's support.

"He spent three days in India to transfer the heavy burden to their shoulders, to find an exit, and to flee from Afghanistan," the group said on its English website.