Sher Muhammad Stanikzai, one of the seven most powerful Taliban leaders, is trained at the Indian Military Academy Dehradun.A former Indian Army general and Stanekzai's beach mate says Stanekzai has never been religious.
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai was trained in 1982 at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.India's most important military training institution.Stanikzai, 60, is today one of the seven most powerful Taliban leaders.
Afghanistan's 'Shiro'
Former Indian Major General DA Chatterjee, who trained with Stanekzai, said Stanekzai was 20 years old when he joined the IMA.He was one of the 45 gentlemen cadets of the Karen Company of the IMA's Bhagat Battalion.We call to him used word Shiro.Did not look inclined to religion.
Major General Chatterjee
Retired Major General Chatterjee, who has been awarded India's most prestigious military awards.The Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Sena Medal, says, "He was very popular among us.He looked a little older than the other cadets at the academy.He had a beautiful mustache.At the time, his ideology was by no means extremist.He was like an ordinary Afghan cadet who wants to spend his time in India".
Foreign cadets have been admitted to the IMA since independence, but the process of admitting Afghan cadets began in 1971 after the Indo-Pakistani war.
Stanekzai is one of the seven most powerful Taliban leaders
Like an ordinary Afghan youth
Retired Colonel Kesar Singh Shakhawat, another batch mate of Abbas Stanekzai, says that Stanekzai came to the IMA directly from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. "He was like a normal young man.As far as I remember.We once went to Rishi Kesh together and also swam in the river Ganga.I also have a picture of the day, in which Shiro and I are in IMA's swimming suit.They were very friendly and we often went for walks in the woods and mountains on weekends".
Pre-Commission Training IMA
Stanekzai had completed pre-commission training at the IMA in india before joining the Afghanistan National Army as a lieutenant.This was the time when the former Soviet Union was leaving Afghanistan.
Stanekzai left the Afghan Army in 1996 to join the Taliban.He was also involved in talks with the Clinton administration to get the Taliban diplomatically recognized by the United States.
New York Times Reports in 1997
A 1997 report in the New York Times described him as the Taliban's acting foreign minister.It is said that he learned English during his stay in India.In later years, he became one of the Taliban's key negotiators.
His proficiency in English and military training proved to be very helpful.When the Taliban established its political office in Doha.He was appointed head there and until the co-founder of the Taliban, Abdul Ghani Baradar, took over the Doha office in 2019.Hold on to this position.
Stanekzai is one of the key Megotiators in the Afghan Peace Effort
India can benefit from Stanekzai
Regarding the Taliban's relationship with India, Major General Chatterjee believes that Stanekzai could prove to be a Trump card.
Major General Chatterjee thinks, "He will surely have fond memories of his days in India.I want to say that this is an opportunity for the Indian Foreign Ministry to use the network of friends of Stanikzai from the IMA to negotiate with the Taliban".
IMA-trained foreign military leaders
IMA Dehradun currently trains cadets from about 33 countries.Leading Pakistani military leaders who have received training from the IMA in the past include Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army General Muhammad Musa, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Habibullah Khan Khattak, former Foreign Minister Colonel Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, Commander of Pakistan.These include Chief and Third President General Yahya Khan.
Commander-in-Chief Bangladesh
The Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini, General MAG Usmani, and Lieutenant General Khawaja Wasiuddin.Who served in the Pakistan Army first and then in the Bangladesh Army, have also received training from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
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