Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, one of the seven most powerful Taliban figures in Afghanistan, has ties to the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. According to The Times of India, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai was known as ‘Sheru’ among the 1982 batchmates of the IMA. Stanikzai was one of 45 cadets at the IMA from the Bhagat Battalion’s Keren Company when he entered the program at the age of 20. At 60, he is one of the top seven Taliban leaders.

While talking to The Times of India, Major General DA Chaturvedi (retired), his batchmate and a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Sena Medal, described Stanikzai as a “likeable guy”. Stanikzai used to appear older than the other cadets and kept an impressive moustache, said Major General DA Chaturvedi (retired), adding that certainly, the Afghan citizen did not have any radical views at the time. “He was an average Afghan cadet who seemed to be enjoying his time here,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. The IMA has been training foreign cadets since Independence, and Afghan cadets since 1971, following the India-Pakistan war. Stanikazi came from the Afghan National Defence & Security Forces. Another batchmate Colonel Kesar Singh Shekhawat (retired) told TOI that Stanikazi was like the “kid next door” and “so friendly”. He recalled the trip to Rishikesh when they bathed in the Ganga.

“There is a photograph from that day in which Sheru can be seen in IMA swimming trunks with me,” said Colonel Kesar Singh Shekhawat (retired). After completing his pre-commission training at the IMA for a year and a half, he joined the Afghan National Army as a lieutenant. Notably, Afghanistan had just been overrun by the Soviets. By 1996, Stanikzai left the Afghan Army, joined the Taliban, and was negotiating with the Clinton administration of the USA to obtain diplomatic recognition for the Taliban.

News Source : First Post