External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday participated in the inaugural session of the intra-Afghan negotiations held in Doha via video conference.
Jaishankar’s participation was in response to an invitation extended to him by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
In his address, Jaishankar referred to the millennia-old relationship between India and Afghanistan, which he said had withstood the test of time.
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s role as a major development partner of Afghanistan with over 400 projects completed in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
He conveyed that India’s policy on Afghanistan had been consistent.
Giving a gist of his address in a series of tweets, Jaishankar said: “India believes any peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. It has to respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and preserve the progress made in the establishment of the democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.”
Addressed the conference on Afghan peace negotiations at Doha today. Conveyed that the peace process must:Be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
Respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan
Promote human rights and democracy pic.twitter.com/wFG3E2OVlJ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 12, 2020
Jaishankar further said: “The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.”
“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 civilizational relationship will continue to grow,” 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 civilizational relationship will continue to grow.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 12, 2020
Jaishankar wished for the success of the Intra-Afghan negotiations in delivering to the people of Afghanistan what they have longed for — a peaceful and prosperous future in an independent and sovereign nation.
A senior official delegation led the Joint Secretary (PAI) in the Ministry of External Affairs, JP Singh, participated in the inaugural ceremony in Doha.
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.
India has been 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 also been maintaining 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.
India has been calling 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.
(Wth inputs from PTI)
