In his first ever dialog with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s International Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Thursday underlined India’s conventional friendship with the Afghan individuals and persevering with assist for his or her improvement wants.
The dialog befell days after India and Pakistan agreed to cease army strikes within the wake of Operation Sindoor performed after the Pahalgam terror assault, an incident condemned by the Kabul regime. Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan too have been working excessive.
That is additionally the primary political-level contact and dialog because the Taliban captured energy in Kabul in August 2021. In January this 12 months, International Secretary Vikram Misri met Muttaqi in Dubai.
The final political degree contact befell in 1999-2000 when then Exterior Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh was in contact with Taliban International Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil following the hijacking of Indian Airways flight IC-814 to Kandahar in December 1999.
After his dialog with Muttaqi, Jaishankar, in a publish on X, stated, “Good dialog with Performing Afghan International Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this night. Deeply recognize his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist assault. Welcomed his agency rejection of latest makes an attempt to create mistrust between India and Afghanistan by false and baseless studies.” That is an obvious reference to studies in Pakistan that Indian missiles had hit Afghanistan, which India known as “ludicrous”.
Holding the traces open
Whereas India remains to be to grant recognition to Taliban in Afghanistan, it has been offering humanitarian and improvement support. Jaishankar’s dialog with Muttaqi follows International Secretary Misri’s assembly with the Taliban minister in Dubai this January.
“Underlined our conventional friendship with the Afghan individuals and persevering with assist for his or her improvement wants. Mentioned methods and technique of taking cooperation ahead,” he stated.
The Taliban International Ministry stated, “The Performing Minister of International Affairs of Afghanistan, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, held a phone dialog with the Minister of Exterior Affairs of India, Mr Jaishankar.”
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“On this dialog, discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations, commerce and elevating the extent of diplomatic ties. The Afghan International Minister described India as an vital regional nation and highlighted the historic ties with Afghanistan, expressing hope for additional strengthening of those relations. He emphasised sustaining constructive relations with all events by a balanced coverage. Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi additionally requested facilitation of Indian visas for Afghan merchants and sufferers, in addition to the discharge and repatriation of Afghan prisoners in India,” it stated.
“Jaishankar additionally acknowledged the historic ties with Afghanistan and said that his nation would proceed its cooperation with Afghanistan, emphasising joint efforts in political and financial areas. Mr. Jaishankar additional dedicated to promptly addressing the problem of prisoners and facilitating visa procedures. Each side additionally confused the event of the Chabahar Port,” the Ministry stated.
Within the final week of April, Delhi had despatched M Anand Prakash, Joint Secretary in command of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, to Kabul.
Even earlier than Prakash reached Kabul, the Afghan International Ministry had condemned the Pahalgam terror assault.
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“The Ministry of International Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the latest assault on vacationers within the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses condolences to the bereaved households,” its spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated.
He stated “such incidents undermine efforts to make sure regional safety and stability.”
In keeping with the Taliban assertion, Muttaqi underscored the significance of increasing diplomatic and financial relations between Kabul and Delhi.
In January, within the first high-level bilateral engagement with the Taliban regime, International Secretary Misri met Muttaqi in Dubai.
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A press release from the Ministry of Exterior Affairs had stated that the 2 sides mentioned numerous points pertaining to bilateral relations in addition to regional developments.
Nevertheless it was not only a meet-and-greet type of a gathering because it coated a variety of points – India’s “safety considerations” in Afghanistan, the necessity for India to “contemplate participating in improvement initiatives within the close to future”, Delhi’s humanitarian help together with assist for rehabilitation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, use of Iran’s Chabahar port for accessing the conflict-hit nation, and cricketing ties between the 2 nations.