New Delhi (NVI): India today said that it is all set to chair the crucial UNSC Taliban sanctions committee and looks forward to working towards a “peaceful, prosperous, sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan”, as it starts with its eighth tenure as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
“With regard to Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan as contiguous neighbours share a natural historical relationship. Our strategic partnership and long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan reflects this time-tested partnership. We have invested heavily in peace and development in Afghanistan and we support all efforts to bring peace and stability there,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said during a weekly media briefing here.
“Our position on the peace process has also been articulated. The peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. As an important stakeholder, we look forward to working towards a peaceful, prosperous, sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan,” he added.
Srivastava further said, “During our tenure, we will be guided by a commitment to promote responsible and inclusive solutions to international peace and security, a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system and a world view anchored in our ethos of VasudhaivaKutumbakam.”
Notably, India will chair the Taliban sanctions committee, also called the 1988 sanctions committee as it was formed through resolution number 1988 in 2011 by splitting the 1267 sanctions regime on al-Qaeda. India is chairing the crucial committee at a time when there is a growing concern worldwide over increasing levels of violence in Afghanistan, for which the Taliban has been held responsible.
Apart from the Taliban sanctions committee, India has been asked also chair the counter-terrorism committee and the Libya sanctions committee, according to TS Tirumurti, India’s permanent ambassador to the UN. India began its new stint at the UNSC for a period of two years from January 1.
-ARK
