India has confirmed its participation to attend the Heart of Asia Ministerial conference hosted by Pakistan on Afghanistan next month but Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) continues to maintain suspense over Minister Sushma Swaraj’s attendance in the event. The conference will be held in Islamabad on December 7 and 8 to discuss Afghanistan. India has been sent a formal invitation by Pakistan for the conference.
“India will certainly participate at the Heart of Asia conference but we are yet to decide the level of our participation,” said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Thursday.
The Heart of Asia process was launched in November 2011 in Turkey to galvanise regional co-operation for security and development in Afghanistan and its near and extended neighbourhood. Fourteen participating countries, 16 supporting countries and 12 regional and international organisations including the United Nations are associated with the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process.
Sources said that since Afghanistan is important strategic partner, India’s participation was beyond any doubt. However, since the event is being held in Pakistan, the Government is weighing on the implications of Swaraj’s attendance in Islamabad, particularly after the collapse of Ufa agreement between PM Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif and derailed NSA-level talks between India and Pak due to the latter’s insistence of involving separatists and including Kashmir in the ambit of talks.
Pakistan has said it would like the Foreign Ministers of two sides to begin talks that are inclusive of all pending issues between the two countries. India, however, wants to strictly follow the line drawn during the meeting in Ufa in Russia that begins with NSA levels talks having focus on terrorism.
While on one side Sushma’s visit to Islamabad can possibly dilute India’s hardened position on talks with Pakistan, there is strong possibility that the EAM’s schedules, if at all she goes, will remain strictly confined to the Heart of Asia conference. Besides, given India’s strategic interest in Afghanistan, any low-level participation to the Ministerial meet may not be seen appropriate.