India not invited to ‘Expanded Troika’ meeting on Afghanistan called by Russia
India has not been invited to a crucial meeting being convened by Russia on the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan, which is expected to see the participation of Pakistan, China and the US, people familiar with the development said on Thursday.
As the Taliban continues its offensive in Afghanistan, Russia has stepped up efforts to reach all key stakeholders in the war-torn country to stop the violence and advance the Afghan peace process.
The ‘Extended Troika’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Qatar on 11 August. The talks under the draft were earlier held on March 18 and April 30.
Russia has also been conducting the ‘Moscow Model’ of talks to bring about peace and create conditions for the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Tashkent that Russia would continue to work with India and other countries that may affect the situation in Afghanistan.
Following the comments, there was speculation that India may be included in the upcoming ‘Expanded Trioka’ meeting.
“We will continue to work with the Americans in the expanded troika format, as well as all other countries that may affect the situation in Afghanistan, including our allies in Central Asia, India, Iran and the US,” he told reporters. “
“We have a Moscow format that includes all the main players,” Lavrov said.
Although Russia has differences with the US on various dimensions of the Afghan conflict, the two countries are now pushing for intra-Afghan talks and an end to widespread violence by the Taliban.
India is yet to comment on the upcoming extended Troika meeting.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India Fareed Mamundje termed the decision to hold a UN Security Council meeting on August 6 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan as a positive development.
India’s Ambassador to the United Nations TS Tirumurti announced that the UN Security Council will meet under the Indian chairmanship on Friday to discuss and take stock of the situation in Afghanistan.
“Holding an emergency UN Security Council session on Afghanistan is a positive development. The United Nations and the international community must play a greater role to prevent the tragedy in Afghanistan caused by violence and atrocities by terrorists. As UNSC President Thank you India for the lead role,” Mamundze tweeted.
The decision to hold the UNSC meeting comes two days after Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on holding an emergency session of the UN Security Council to prevent Taliban violence.
India presides over the UNSC for the month of August.
The Taliban has been increasingly moving across Afghanistan, resorting to widespread violence, since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1. The US has already pulled back most of its forces and wants to complete the drawdown by August 31. .
India has been a major stakeholder in Afghanistan’s peace and stability. It has already invested around USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged country.
India has been supportive of a national peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.
It has been calling on all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to fulfill the aspirations of all the people of the country, including the minority communities, for a prosperous and secure future.
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