United States (US) Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad visited New Delhi on Tuesday to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The officials held extensive talks regarding the ongoing Afghan peace talks, discussing related issues, including India’s role in the overall peace process. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was also present during the meeting.
The meeting was held at the heels of the inaugural ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha, which took place on Saturday. Jaishankar had attended the event via video conference, and in his address said that New Delhi hoped that Afghan soil is never used for any anti-India activities. Instability in Afghanistan has serious implications for Indian national security and India has kept a close eye on the situation in the country after the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in February. India has emphasized that any peace deal should prevent the emergence of “ungoverned spaces” where terrorist groups could take hold. Tuesday’s meetings took stock of the developments in Doha, with both sides agreeing that a favorable outcome of the peace negotiations would involve a political roadmap and a permanent ceasefire in the war-torn nation.
“The United States and India share the view that the peace process must continue until there is agreement on a political roadmap and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire. The Afghan sides should ensure their territory must not be used by any terrorist group against any other country,” said a statement issued by the US embassy after Tuesday’s meeting. Khalilzad also emphasized on the importance of sustained regional and international support for the success of the intra-Afghan negotiations and the implementation of any agreement, saying that India and the US would work together to support this objective.
Before visiting India, Khalilzad met with Pakistan Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan in Islamabad on Tuesday, to discuss regional security as well as the intra-Afghan talks. During the meeting, Bajwa assured Khalilzad that Prime Minister Imran Khan was committed to working towards “peace and connectivity” in the broader region.
US Afghan Envoy Meets EAM S. Jaishankar Over India’s Role in Afghan Peace Process
Both sides agreed that a favourable outcome of the peace negotiations would involve a political roadmap and a permanent ceasefire in the war-torn nation.
September 17, 2020
SOURCE: TWITTER (@DrSJaishankar)