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After the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the name of Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a top leader of the insurgent group, is getting popular across the globe as it has a direct link with the Indian Military Academy. According to the reports and some retired Army personnel, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai was trained at IMA, Dehradun, before joining the Taliban. He was in the Afghan army and was trained as a foreign cadet at the Indian Military Academy.
Who is Taliban Leader ‘Sheru’?
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai aka Sheru was born in Logar Province. He completed his studies in political science from Afghanistan and completed his master’s before joining the military. During his military carrier, he fought in the Soviet-Afghan war. He became the deputy minister of foreign affairs under foreign minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil in 1996 when the Taliban came to power.
In the 1980s, he left the Afghan army and joined ‘Jihad’ against the Soviet army, and by 1996, Stanikzai had left the army, joining the Taliban.
Training at Indian Military Academy
Sher Mohammad Abbas appeared for Afgan Defense Academy, and after passing the examination, he was selected for training at IMA Dehradun. In 1982, Sher Mohammad Abbas joined the Afghan National Army as a Lieutenant after completing his training at the IMA.
Mohammad Abbas was among the 45 cadets who received training in the Keran Company of the Bhagat Battalion of the academy. Since 1948, numerous cadets from African and Asian countries have received “pre-commission training” at the Indian Military Academy.
Major General DA Chaturvedi (retired), Stanikzai’s batchmate and a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Sena Medal, was one of his batchmates. He recalls that he was not a hardliner during his pre-commission training at IMA Dehradun and was quite a likable person.
Why disappoint him. Here are Sheru’s photos.
— Sandy Thapar 🇮🇳 (@sandythapar) August 20, 2021
Uniform : standing 1st from Left
Games : standing 4th from Left https://t.co/dTX2C7MKPW pic.twitter.com/r10JMsdHfZ