Top G7 lawmakers want India in Afghanistan meetings

INFLUENTIAL lawmakers from members of the G7 group have said that India should be invited to attend the bloc’s meeting that seeks to develop a united front for global security and regional stability in the wake of the Taliban taking over power in Afghanistan.

US Democratic senator Bob Menendez, who is the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his counterparts from countries like the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and the European Parliament also said in a joint statement that the African Union should also be invited to attend individual G7 meetings when appropriate.

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“The withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan should not be misinterpreted by the global community as any weakening of resolve from G7 governments in taking all necessary measures to combat cross-border terrorism, to support regional cooperation or advance democratic values,” Menendez and his counterparts from G-7 countries said in the joint statement.

“With the spill-over of terrorism possible, we would like to see India invited to attend this G-7 meeting. As other terror groups are beginning to muster in the Horn of Africa and reawaken movements elsewhere, we believe the African Union should be invited to attend individual G-7 meetings when appropriate,” they said.

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“This would promote a regional shift for governments and ensure that the spill-over effects of Afghanistan which could destabilise neighbouring countries are constantly monitored by those closest to the likely areas of threat,” they said.

“The export of terror, whether in South Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, or any other part of the world, should be met with swift and decisive action,” the statement said.

Besides Menendez, the joint statement was issued by David McAllister, MEP, chair, European Parliament; Jean-Louis Bourlanges, chair, French National Assembly; Dr Norbert Rottgen MdB, chair, German Bundestag; Piero Fassino, MP, chair, Italian Chamber of Deputies; ABE Toshiko, chair, Japanese House of Representatives; and Tom Tugendhat, MP, Chair, UK Parliament.

The G-7 is an intergovernmental political grouping of seven countries comprising the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.