Support peace initiatives in Afghanistan: Govt in RS
India on Thursday said it has a steadfast policy to support a sovereign, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan and it is in touch with various stakeholders within and outside Afghanistan including regional and international partners. The comments by the Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in Rajya Sabha came a day after India and the US strongly pitched for an immediate intraafghan peace process to end the violence in Afghanistan and find a political settlement.
Muraleedharan said India supports all peace initiatives leading towards a lasting political settlement through an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghanowned and Afghan-controlled process.
The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the US began withdrawing its troops on May 1. The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.
“As a contiguous neighbour and strategic partner, India has a steadfast policy to support sovereign, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan, where the interest of all sections of Afghan society including women, children and minori
are protected,” he said. “India supports all peace initiatives leading towards a lasting political settlement through an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghanowned and Afghan controlled process which would lead to peace and stability in the region,” the minister said.
He also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s online participation in September last year in the inaugural session of the intra-afghan negotiations in Doha.
“The external affairs minister participated in the inaugural session of the intra-afghan negotiations in Doha held in September 2020. The government is in touch with various stakeholders within and outside Afghanistan, including regional and international partners,” Muraleedharan said.
On September 12, an Indian delegation attended the inaugural ceremony of the intra-afghan negotiations featuring various stakeholders including the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha.
Jaishankar joined it thro video conference.
The evolving situatio Afghanistan figured pro nently during talks bew Jaishankar and US Secreta State Antony Blinken her Wednesday.
Blinken said there can b military solution to the Afg conflict and India has and continue to make vital co butions to Afghanistan’s st ity and development as a le and a critical American par in the region.
The US Secretary of S said that both India and th “largely” see Afghan confli the same light, warning tha Afghanistan that does respect the rights of its pe and commits atrocities aga them would become a “pa state”.
India has been a m stakeholder in the peace stability of Afghanistan.
It has already inve nearly USD 3 billion in aid reconstruction activities in country.
India has been supporti national peace and reconc tion process which is Afg led, Afghan-owned Afghan-controlled.
It has also been calling u all sections of the polit spectrum in Afghanista work together to meet the a rations of all people in country including those f the minority community f prosperous and safe futur