New Delhi: Ahead of the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’, NSA Ajit Doval on Tuesday held separate bilateral talks with his counterparts from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, focusing on developments in Afghanistan, including potential threats of terrorism from Afghan soil. and the emerging humanitarian crisis in India. The war-torn country news agency ANI has given information quoting official sources.
This comes as India is set to host a regional security dialogue on Afghanistan on Wednesday, for which the NSAs of Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been formally invited.
NSA Ajit Doval will chair the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’.
Read also | After Pakistan, China denies invite for NSA-level ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue’ on Afghanistan: Report
ANI quoted sources as saying that in the meeting with Nasrulo Rahmatzon Mahmudzoda, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan, there was a detailed exchange of views with significant convergence of assessments on Afghanistan.
Concerns have been expressed in recent days about a sharp increase in terrorist threats from Afghanistan. Sources said the Tajikistan side highlighted the seriousness of the situation in Afghanistan.
The discussions also included the emerging humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.
“On the bilateral side, deepening cooperation in areas such as defence, border management and development of border infrastructure were discussed during the meeting with Tajikistan,” official sources said.
NSA Ajit Doval met his Uzbekistan and Tajikistan counterparts in Delhi today and exchanged views on Afghanistan: Sources pic.twitter.com/Yg5wsqW9z2
— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2021
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan was again a major focus of discussion in the meeting with Viktor Makhmudov, Secretary of the Security Council of Afghanistan.
“Both sides agreed that the future of Afghanistan should be decided by the people of Afghanistan themselves,” sources close to the development told ANI.
“They felt that the legitimacy of any Afghan government within Afghanistan was important before the issue of international recognition. Both sides stressed the need for Afghanistan’s neighbors to ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan,” he said. said.
It was pointed out that India and Uzbekistan highlighted the need for sustainable economic development of Afghanistan and agreed that neighboring states should play a constructive role in the country.
About ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’
The NSAs of seven countries are said to have confirmed their participation in the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’ to be held on Wednesday.
The countries include Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The NSA participants will also jointly meet PM Modi, sources told ANI on Monday.
On Afghanistan’s non-participation, ANI sources had said: “None of the eight countries (including India) recognize or legitimize the Taliban government. India also does not recognize it, so it has invited Afghanistan for talks.” Not invited.”
Discussions will cover concerns on terrorism as well as radicalization and extremism in Afghanistan and the border areas.
It was said that the Central Asian countries are concerned about the threat posed by military weapons left in Afghanistan, as well as drug production and smuggling.
Meanwhile, China said that it is unable to attend the conference due to scheduling issues, while also adding that it is open to talks with India on Afghanistan multilaterally and bilaterally.
Notably, Pakistan had earlier reported its rejection of an invitation to an NSA-level meeting of regional countries being hosted by India.
The two previous meetings in this format were held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019.
The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The high-level partnership meeting organized by India reflects the wider and growing concern of regional countries about the situation in Afghanistan and their willingness to consult and coordinate with each other.
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