External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Haneef Atmar in Dushanbe to deliberate over the political and security situations as well as discuss the peace process in the war-torn country on Tuesday, 13 July, ANI reported.
Following his meeting, Jaishankar reportedly shared that he presented the Indian view at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Contact Group meeting on Afghanistan at Dushanbe.
At the summit, he had reportedly said:
"The world, region, and the Afghan people all want the same end state — an independent, neutral, unified, peaceful, democratic, and prosperous nation."
At the meeting, the EAM reportedly iterated his concern over the increasing violence in the nation, stressing the need to end bloodshed in Afghanistan.
The EAM reached the Tajik capital on Tuesday, 13 July, for a two-day visit to attend the meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers and the SCO contact group on Afghanistan.
WHAT ELSE DID EAM JAISHANKAR SAY?
According to PTI, speaking at the SCO meet, Jaishankar had said:
"Afghanistan's future can't be its past; whole new generation has different expectations."
"World is against seizure of power by violence and force; it will not legitimise such actions."S Jaishankar
Emphasising on the importance of ceasing violence and terrorist attacks against civilians and state representatives, settling conflict through political dialogue, and respecting interests of all ethnic groups, to ensure that neighbours are not threatened by terrorism, separatism, and extremism; India's EAM dubbed "peace negotiations in earnest" the only answer.
WHAT ABOUT JAISHANKAR'S AFGHAN COUNTERPART?
According to a statement by the Afghan government, Atmar underscored India's instrumental role in strengthening regional consensus on the Afghan peace process and the preservation of the country's achievements over the last two decades, ANI reported.
MORE DETAILS
The SCO contact group meeting has become crucial as Afghanistan witnesses Taliban fighters steadfastly attacking and seizing control of several of the county's regions.
As a major stakeholder in the stability of the region, Dr Jaishankar on Tuesday, assured the Afghan Foreign Minister of India's sustained cooperation in strengthening regional and global consensus to achieve a political settlement.
As per the Government of Afghanistan, combating this threat to Afghani civilians and defence forces is vital to regional security.
Meanwhile, India has undertaken evaluation operations for its diplomats in the country – around 50 diplomats and security personnel from Afghanistan's consulate in Kandahar have been flown back on a military aircraft amid rising tensions.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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