- Sunday, May 05, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA has witnessed a diplomatic blow over Afghanistan as Russia has overlooked the South Asian power while convening a crucial meeting on the fast-evolving situation in the war-ravaged nation in the wake of the US-led troops’ pull-out. According to sources familiar with the development, China and Pakistan are expected to be present at the meeting called by the Kremlin.
The “extended troika” meeting is scheduled to be held in Qatar on August 11. Talks under the format had taken place in March and April, PTI reported.
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Russia has been holding the “Moscow format” of talks to bring peace and creating conditions for national reconciliation in Afghanistan which has seen increasing violence as the Taliban have witnessed a resurgence with the western forces’ withdrawal.
In July, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that Moscow will continue to work with New Delhi and other countries that can influence the situation in Afghanistan. Following his remark, speculation was rife that India may be included in the “extended troika” meeting.
“We will continue working with the Americans in the extended troika format as well as with all other countries that can influence the situation in Afghanistan, including our partners from Central Asia, India, Iran and the US,” Lavrov had told reporters.
“We have a Moscow format that includes all the main players,” he had added.
Though Russia and the US have differences on various dimensions of the Afghan situation, both are currently pushing for intra-Afghan talks to put an end to the widespread violence that is being carried out by the Taliban.
India was yet to react to the “extended troika” meeting.
Meanwhile, Afghan ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay hailed the decision to hold a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Friday (6).
India’s envoy to the UN TS Tirumurti said the Security Council will meet on Friday under the ongoing presidency of India and take stock of the situation.
“Convening an emergency UN Security Council Session on Afghanistan is a positive development. UN & international community must play a greater role to stop the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan due to violence & atrocities by terrorists. Thank you India for the lead role as UNSC President,” Mamundzay tweeted.
The decision to hold the meeting came a couple of days after Afghan foreign minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar spoke to his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar over convening the emergency session at the key world body to stop Taliban violence.
