Speaker of the Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed says it is wishful to think that the Taliban military organization that had taken over the country's government would be any different this time.
Nasheed made the comments in an interview with Times Now news outlet in India.
The Speaker said that the international community must take heart before more robust engagements with the Taliban government.
He said that it is wishful thinking to think that the Taliban would be different this time.
Nasheed said that there are other political entities that should be engaged in Afghanistan including the former president. He noted that there are many progressive ideas that the international community can engage with.
The former President also said that nothing is stopping regional powerhouse India from being strategic in its engagement.
Nasheed said that India can find groups within India that have a more progressive idea of statehood and that India can be strategic in that manner.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.
The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies put up a puny effort to deter the militant group.
