New Delhi: Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday spoke about the situation in Afghanistan and India’s views and concerns at the United Nations high-level meeting on the humanitarian situation in the country.
“Afghanistan is passing through a critical and challenging period. There has been a major change in its political, economic, social and security situation and consequently in its humanitarian needs, Foreign Affairs said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Speaking at the UN high-level meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that as an immediate neighbour, “India is monitoring developments with understandable concern”.
“UNDP recently assessed that there is an imminent threat of poverty levels rising from 72 percent to 97 percent. This will have disastrous consequences for regional stability,” he emphasized.
The minister also said that it is important that issues of travel and safe passage that may hinder humanitarian aid are resolved immediately.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar said, “Those who want to travel in and out of Afghanistan should be given such facilities without any hindrance.”
He further said that normalization of regular commercial operations of Kabul airport will not only help in travel but will also form the basis for regular flow of relief material.
“It will also accelerate activities that will complement the domestic relief measures,” External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said.
Elaborating on India’s position, S Jaishankar said that “India’s own vision for Afghanistan is guided by historical friendship with its people. It will continue to be so. In the past too, we have addressed the human needs of that society.” have contributed.”
“Our friendship is reflected in Indian development projects in all 34 (Afghan) provinces. In the face of a grave emergency, India stands ready to stand by the Afghan people as before. The international community must come together to create the best possible, enabling environment,” he stressed
He also said that India has consistently supported the central role of the United Nations in the future of Afghanistan.
“Once relief materials reach that country, the world will naturally expect a non-discriminatory distribution among all sections of Afghan society. Only the United Nations has the capacity to monitor such efforts and reassure donors. As the picture becomes clear with respect to legitimate concerns, I am confident that the world will move forward and assist the Afghan people in this hour of need,” he said.
India also emphasized that UN resolution 2593 should take forward the vision of the international community in the coming days at this crucial stage in Afghanistan.
Resolution 2593 was adopted by the UNSC chaired by India on August 30, 2021, with Russia and China abstaining from voting. It demands that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to harbor or train terrorists.
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Meanwhile, the Indian government has reportedly directed border forces and armed police units deployed in the counter-terrorism grid to prepare and conduct a new training module on modalities for Taliban and soldiers.
International troops withdrawing from Kabul paved the way for an interim Taliban government and the change of power is expected to have a “serious effect” on the security situation in India.
Taking into account the current situation, the ground forces and their intelligence should upgrade their strategy, tactics and course of warfare on “the geopolitical situation in Central and South Asia and its serious security implications in the borders and hinterland of India”. has been called for. According to news agency PTI.
The directions come amid fears of a rise in cross-border infiltration from Pakistan into India’s west and illegal entry of terrorist operatives, including foreign terrorist fighters, from open fronts.
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