Shashi Tharoor faces backlash for tweet on ‘misguided Malayalis’ joining Taliban

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday faced intense criticism for suggesting that there were Malayalis among the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP made the comments in response to a video of purported Taliban fighters weeping in joy on reaching Kabul. “It sounds as if there are at least two Malayali Taliban here — one who says ‘samsarikkette’ around the 8-second mark & another who understands him!” Tharoor had said on Twitter.

The video was shared by a Twitter user named Ramiz, who claims in his bio to be interested in conflict journalism.

It sounds as if there are at least two Malayali Taliban here — one who says “samsarikkette” around the 8-second mark & another who understands him! https://t.co/SSdrhTLsBG

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 17, 2021

In response, Ramiz clarified that they were Baloch fighters from Zabul province of Afghanistan who were speaking Brahui. The Brahui language is a Dravidian language spoken in parts of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

Tharoor termed it an “interesting explanation”, but said that there have indeed been Malayalis who joined the Taliban in the past.

Interesting explanation. WIll leave it to the linguists to figure this one out. But there have indeed been misguided Malayalis who joined the Taliban, so that possibility cannot be ruled out entirely. https://t.co/B6AuIqvjHf

— Shashi…

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