Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD), a civil society group has said in a statement, having over 100 signatories, that it, “rejects the very idea of a theocratic state anywhere in the world. It questions the legitimacy of the ‘Islamic Emirate’ the Taliban seek to impose on the war-torn, war-weary people of Afghanistan who are yearning for peace.”

It comes after some leaders from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), namely Maulana Umrain Mahfuz Rahmani and Maulana Sajjad Nomani and the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, expressed what the IMSD termed as “euphoria” over Taliban’s capture of power. Javed Anand, Mumbai convenor IMSD, said, “Now, even though it is a situation in rapid flux, we are hearing about how Taliban claims it has ‘changed’ and will accord rights to all. Reports from the ground though say something else altogether.”