New Delhi: A regional security conference organized by India on Wednesday agreed on the need to ensure that Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven for terrorism and the need for an inclusive government in the country.
Apart from India, the National Security Advisors of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan “expressed concern at the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and underlined the need to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan”. did.” A manifesto said after consultations in New Delhi.
Security officials from the eight countries also underlined that “humanitarian aid should be provided to Afghanistan in an uninterrupted, direct and assured manner and that aid should be distributed in a non-discriminatory manner to all sections of Afghan society within the country.” The Delhi manifesto states that it comes against reports of Afghans suffering due to lack of food.
The meeting in New Delhi, convened to coordinate a normalcy and strategy on Afghanistan after the takeover of Kabul by the Pakistan-backed Taliban on August 15, was the first of its kind to be hosted by India. The last two such meetings were hosted by Iran in 2018 and 2019.
According to a person familiar with the matter, New Delhi did not invite the Taliban for talks as India does not recognize the Taliban government.
Pakistan and China, who were invited, did not attend. While Pakistan declined the invitation, Islamabad’s close ally China cited scheduling problems to stay away.
The meeting in New Delhi coincided with Amir Khan Muttaki, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban, who began a visit to Pakistan to discuss trade and other issues amid the group’s quest for global recognition and assets to address the economic crisis. was doing, Reuters said. Pakistan has not formally recognized the Taliban, but has longstanding ties with the group, although Islamabad officially denies it.
According to news reports, the discussions also took place in New Delhi as the new US envoy to Afghanistan Thomas West is scheduled to visit the region. Pakistan is expected to host a meeting of representatives of the US, China and Russia on Afghanistan soon.
According to the Delhi Declaration, a representative government in Kabul is “essential for a successful national reconciliation process in the country.”
Expressing concern over terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, the declaration “emphasized that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to shelter, train, plan or finance any terrorist act.”
It “strongly condemned all terrorist activities and reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” and “come up against the threat of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region.” called for cooperation.”
On the treatment of women, children and minorities, the manifesto called for ensuring the fundamental rights of these sections of the society.
Earlier, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in his inaugural address said that the recent developments in Afghanistan have had significant implications not only for the people of that country but also for its neighbors and the region.
“We are meeting today to discuss matters relating to Afghanistan. We are all closely watching the developments in that country,” Doval said.
“It is time for closer consultations between us,” he said. “I am confident that our discussions will be productive, fruitful and contribute to helping people in Afghanistan and enhancing our collective security,” he said.
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