Kabul (NVI): Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today met Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Haroon Chakhansuri here, a day ahead of the signing of a deal between the US and Taliban which could have implications for India.
Shringla, on his first visit to Kabul since taking over as Foreign Secretary about a month back, conveyed India’s support to Afghanistan’s pursuit for sustainable peace, security and development.
During their meeting, Shringla conveyed congratulations on President Ashraf Ghani’s re-election and pledged India’s support to democracy, stability and development in Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by Afghan Foreign Ministry.
They discussed various aspects of political, security, economic, business, transit and cultural issues, including the Afghan peace process, strengthening of people-to-people relations, it said.
The problems posed by the spread of the coronavirus was also discussed, with the two sides agreeing to work together to combat this global phenomenon.
The timing of the Indian Foreign Secretary’s visit to Kabul is significant as the US is going to sign a deal with Taliban in Qatar tomorrow, which will pave the way for America to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan after 18 years of bloody engagement.
Leaders and representatives of a number of countries will be attending the deal-signing ceremony. India is likely to send its Ambassador in Doha to attend the event.
India is watching with anxiety the deal and its contours as it could have implications for this country, particularly since Taliban is a proxy of Pakistan and its notorious intelligence agency ISI.
US President Donald Trump, during his visit to India earlier this week, said the deal was part of his endeavour to bring home the American troops who have been in Afghanistan since December 2001.
The troops of the US and its NATO allies entered Afghanistan in pursuit of ‘war against terror’ in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks. The war against terror was mainly targeted at Al Qaida and the Taliban, which was then ruling Afghanistan.
Taliban, through a military campaign, had seized power in 1996 and ruled Afghanistan in a barbaric manner to impose fanatic systems. It crushed all human rights and particularly enforced extremely stiff rules on women.
The US removed Taliban from power in 2002, paving the way for a return of democracy in Afghanistan.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is already in Doha to attend tomorrow’s ceremony, said, “tomorrow is a big day for Afghans” and a great opportunity as Afghanistan is moving towards peace and reconciliation.
Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, who is also in Doha for the event, expressed optimism about the Afghan peace process.
He underlined the need for working together to address the problems in Afghanistan.
