As negotiations commenced on Saturday in Doha for bringing peace to strife-torn Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here the process must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country. He also hoped that its territory will not be used for anti-India activities.
In a virtual address on the inaugural intra-Afghan peace negotiations, Jaishankar said the peace process must promote human rights and democracy, ensure interest of minorities, women and the vulnerable sections, and “effectively” address violence across the country. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo also participated in the inaugural event.
Giving a gist of his address in a series of tweets, Jaishankar also reaffirmed India’s long-held position that the peace process should be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled”.
Outlining New Delhi’s approach to Afghanistan, he said “the friendship of our peoples is a testimony to our history with Afghanistan. No part of Afghanistan is untouched by our 400-plus development projects. Confident that this civilisational relationship will continue to grow,” he said.
Last month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed to release 400 Taliban prisoners, paving the way for the beginning of the long-awaited peace process aimed at ending nearly two-decades of conflict in the war-torn country.
India has been a major stakeholder in peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested USD two billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.
It has been backing a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.
Moreover, India was keenly following the evolving political situation after the US inked a peace deal with the Taliban in February. The deal provided for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains to Washington’s 18-year war in the country. The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001.
India has all along maintained that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does not lead to any “ungoverned spaces” where terrorists and their proxies can relocate.
It also called upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in that country including those from the minority community for a prosperous and safe future.
The external affairs ministry said Jaishankar’s participation was in response to an invitation extended to him by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. A senior official delegation led by J P Singh, Joint Secretary (PAI) in the Ministry of External Affairs participated in the inaugural ceremony.