India urges peace, talks in Afghan road map

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday presented a three-point road map for an end state in Afghanistan, including cessation of violence and attacks and a political dialogue for a settlement which ensures that countries in the region aren’t threatened by terrorism and extremism.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar presented the Indian view at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Contact Group on Afghanistan in the Tajikistan capital. Against the backdrop of a sustained campaign by the Taliban to capture territory and border crossings, he said the world community is against the “seizure of power by violence and force” and wouldn’t “legitimise such actions”.

Earlier, Jaishankar participated in a meeting of SCO foreign ministers in Dushanbe, which was dominated by the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, and called on members of the grouping to act against terrorism.

“The world, region and the Afghan people all want the same end state: 1. An independent, neutral, unified, peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation,” Jaishankar said in a string of tweets after the meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan as he outlined the three-point road map.

“2. Ceasing violence and terrorist attacks against civilians and state representatives, settle conflict through political dialogue, and respect interests of all ethnic groups, and 3. Ensure that neighbours are not threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism,” he said.