” Sheru ” 1982 batch trained Afghan cadet in Indian Military Academy is new top Taliban leader
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who passed out from the IMA under the Indo-Afghan defense cooperation program is the new head of the political office of the Taliban.
A well-built, tall, and not so religiously inclined cadet who was fondly called ” Sheru ” by his fellow batchmates in the Indian Military Academy is the new head of the political office of the Taliban.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai aka ” Sheru ” trained in the Indian Military Academy as a young adult in his 20s under the Indo-Afghan defense cooperation program. He was one of the 45 foreign gentlemen cadets of the Bhagat Battalion’s Keren Company at the academy.
After passing out of the 1982 batch completing his pre-commission training of 1.5 years he joined the Aghan National Army as a lieutenant at a time when Afghanistan was overrun by the USSR.
Soon he got inspired by the theme of Jihad which was prevalent at that time against the atheist soviets and joined the Taliban in 1996.
With his military training and English speaking skills, he became one of the top negotiators for the Taliban and still remains so. He in the past has been the Deputy Foreign Minister and has had negotiated with the Clinton administration for diplomatic recognition of the Taliban.
He was a senior political officer and ran the same office in Doha, Qatar since 2012 before being appointed as the head of political affairs in 2015.
“He was a likable guy who seemed a little older than the other cadets at the academy. He kept this striking mustache. He certainly had no radical views at the time. He was an average Afghan cadet who seemed to be enjoying his time here,” quoted Major General DA Chaturvedi (retired), his batchmate.
Another batchmate of his, Colonel (retd) Kesar Singh Shekhawat, recalled their weekend hikes and trips to the riverside.
“He was like the kid next door. I remember this one time we went to Rishikesh and bathed in the Ganga. There is a photograph of him in his swimming trunks from a day we had gone to the river in Rishikesh and bathed in the Ganga,” Col Shekhawat said
Experts believe his fond memories with fellow IMA batchmates can be leveraged by the MEA to negotiate with the Taliban.
