New Delhi: Russia has supported India’s efforts to organize a regional conference Afghanistan The Russian NSA is currently in close contact with both sides to facilitate the participation of Nikolay Petrushev next week. While an official confirmation is awaited, sources said Moscow has been supportive of India’s initiative, even though Taliban Not invited to the meeting.
Patrushev visited India in September for a high-level intergovernmental dialogue on Afghanistan and his participation in the upcoming summit, which will be hosted by NSA Ajit Doval, will be important for India as Russia continues to play a key role in Afghanistan. . . As TOI first reported on October 16, India last month proposed its own conference amid growing concerns over the security situation on Afghanistan and the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Russia has been encouraging India to engage with the Taliban and was pleased with the recent meeting between the Indian delegation and the Taliban on the sidelines of the Moscow format talks. Presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov said last week that the meeting was a sign that “the regional consensus has really matured” and that such engagements will enhance mutual understanding between India and Kabul.
Sources said top officials from Iran and several Central Asian countries are likely to attend the conference. China, if at all, can virtually be involved and Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf declined to participate, calling India a “spoiler” in Afghanistan.
While the summit may yet see a “symbolic participation” by Pakistan, Yusuf’s refusal to visit India suggests that Islamabad would be reluctant to facilitate any access by India to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has also not yet accepted India’s offer to provide wheat and medical aid to Afghanistan by land. However, it is learned that Islamabad is still considering the proposal and the modalities for movement of a large number of trucks are being worked out.
As reported by TOI on October 19, and again on Tuesday this week, India approached Pakistan early last month with a proposal to move 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via the Wagah-Attari border route .
India had proposed the same exercise in 2002 to transport wheat to Afghanistan but Pakistan refused permission then.
It is worth noting that the Taliban is the United Nations-nominated ambassador and spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, told TOI on Monday that the Kabul government was ready to accept aid from India, in fact from others, before the impending winter. This was followed by a meeting of the Taliban with India in Moscow in which the latter offered humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. It is also important for India, however, to involve the United Nations in any humanitarian aid delivery process to ensure “non-discriminatory” delivery, as the government has repeatedly stated.
Patrushev visited India in September for a high-level intergovernmental dialogue on Afghanistan and his participation in the upcoming summit, which will be hosted by NSA Ajit Doval, will be important for India as Russia continues to play a key role in Afghanistan. . . As TOI first reported on October 16, India last month proposed its own conference amid growing concerns over the security situation on Afghanistan and the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Russia has been encouraging India to engage with the Taliban and was pleased with the recent meeting between the Indian delegation and the Taliban on the sidelines of the Moscow format talks. Presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov said last week that the meeting was a sign that “the regional consensus has really matured” and that such engagements will enhance mutual understanding between India and Kabul.
Sources said top officials from Iran and several Central Asian countries are likely to attend the conference. China, if at all, can virtually be involved and Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf declined to participate, calling India a “spoiler” in Afghanistan.
While the summit may yet see a “symbolic participation” by Pakistan, Yusuf’s refusal to visit India suggests that Islamabad would be reluctant to facilitate any access by India to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has also not yet accepted India’s offer to provide wheat and medical aid to Afghanistan by land. However, it is learned that Islamabad is still considering the proposal and the modalities for movement of a large number of trucks are being worked out.
As reported by TOI on October 19, and again on Tuesday this week, India approached Pakistan early last month with a proposal to move 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via the Wagah-Attari border route .
India had proposed the same exercise in 2002 to transport wheat to Afghanistan but Pakistan refused permission then.
It is worth noting that the Taliban is the United Nations-nominated ambassador and spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, told TOI on Monday that the Kabul government was ready to accept aid from India, in fact from others, before the impending winter. This was followed by a meeting of the Taliban with India in Moscow in which the latter offered humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. It is also important for India, however, to involve the United Nations in any humanitarian aid delivery process to ensure “non-discriminatory” delivery, as the government has repeatedly stated.
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