'Afghanistan developments have key implications'

INDIAN national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday (10) chaired a multi-party regional security dialogue on Afghanistan in New Delhi and said that developments in the war-ravaged nation have key implications not only for its people but also for the neighbouring countries and the overall region.

“We are meeting today to discuss the matters relating to Afghanistan. We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region,” Doval said at the event which is attended by the NSAs of five Central Asian countries – Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, besides Russia and Iran.

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Pakistan and China have refused to attend the meet.

During the meeting, the countries will review the security situation in the region arising from the recent developments in Afghanistan, India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) had earlier said in a press release.

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Iran had earlier hosted dialogues in a similar format.

The current meeting is a continuation of the format started by Tehran in 2018 and 2019. However, the dialogue saw the highest participation -- of eight nations – this time.

The dialogue will deliberate upon measures to address security challenges and support the people of Afghanistan in promoting peace, security and stability, the MEA release added.

Tajikistan expresses concern

Tajikistan expressed concerns over the current situation along its border with Afghanistan at the meet and said that the ongoing situation creates an extra risk of a surge in terrorism, drug trafficking and criminality.

“We have a long border with Afghanistan and the situation on Tajik-Afghan borders remains complicated,” Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, secretary, Security Council of Tajikistan, said. He also said that Tajikistan is ready to participate in all programmes that can help the people of Afghanistan.

Charymyrat Amanov, secretary, Security Council of Turkmenistan at the meet, said: “This meeting gives us the opportunity to find out the solution over the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, and to establish peace in this region.”

Kabul needs an inclusive government: Iran

Iran, another neighbour of Afghanistan, said the war-torn nation is facing a number of problems, including poverty and terrorism and added that an inclusive government in Kabul is the solution to deal with the crisis.

“Basically in Afghanistan, we have just crises, the crisis of migration and refugees, and the solution comes only through the formation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic groups,” Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran at the meet, said. “We are really hopeful through the exchange of opinions and ideas we have would be able to achieve what has been the objectives and aims of this forum,” he added.