New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and expressed India’s commitment to further deepen India-Afghan ties and its principled position on the ongoing peace negotiations in Doha.
Bilateral issues, including India’s development cooperation with Afghanistan, were discussed in the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“Strengthening our commitment to our close neighbour. PM @narendramodi met with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah @DrabdullahCE of Afghanistan, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation. He reaffirmed our long term commitment to further deepening India-Afghan ties,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a tweet.
??- ?? | Strengthening our commitment to our close neighbour.
PM @narendramodi met with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah @DrabdullahCE of Afghanistan, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation. He reaffirmed our long term commitment to further deepening India-Afghan ties. pic.twitter.com/XRMcAnlpnr
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 8, 2020
Abdullah also tweeted after his meeting with the Prime Minister and thanked India for its principled position on the Afghan peace process.
“Pleased to meet HE Narendra Modi @narendramodi, the Prime Minister of Republic of #India. In our friendly discussion we took stock of the latest developments on the #AfghanPeaceProcess, the talks in Doha, & India’s support for the peace efforts,” the Afghan leader said in one of the tweets.
Pleased to meet HE Narendra Modi @narendramodi, the Prime Minister of Republic of #India. In our friendly discussion we took stock of the latest developments on the #AfghanPeaceProcess, the talks in Doha, & India’s support for the peace efforts. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/D8qwqEfGAp
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) October 8, 2020
Dr Abdullah also appreciated Indian’s developmental commitment of US$ 3 billion, projects under which are benefiting Afghans across all of its 34 provinces, MEA said.
PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment towards sustainable peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and welcomed efforts towards a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.
Abdullah, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a five-day, met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval yesterday, who told him that India is in favour of a democratic and sovereign Afghanistan “where no terrorists can operate”.
“Had a constructive discussion with HE Ajit Doval, the NSA of India. We discussed the #AfghanPeaceProcess, & the talks in Doha. He assured me of India’s full support for the peace efforts, & that any peace settlement acceptable to Afghans, will have the support of India,” Abdullah tweeted after his meeting with Doval.
Had a constructive discussion with HE Ajit Doval, the NSA of India. We discussed the #AfghanPeaceProcess, & the talks in Doha. He assured me of India’s full support for the peace efforts, & that any peace settlement acceptable to Afghans, will have the support of India. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/gP1rr9hFXL
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) October 7, 2020
Doval also hosted a dinner for Abdullah’s delegation that was attended by foreign secretary Harsh Shringla, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, senior officials of the external affairs ministry and key members of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
The Afghan leader is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tomorrow. He will also deliver a speech at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) today.
-ARK
