New Delhi: India and five Central Asian countries on Tuesday asserted that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for any terrorist activities and called for the formation of a “truly inclusive” political structure in Kabul, which will give equal rights to women and children. Respects the rights of all Afghans, including minorities. At the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan, New Delhi also announced a fresh tranche of aid of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan and the consignment would be sent through the Chabahar port in Iran. In the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan held in Delhi, the situation in the war-ravaged country was discussed extensively.
A joint statement said the meeting stressed the importance of forming a “truly inclusive and representative political structure” that respects the rights of all Afghans and women, girls and members of minority groups, including access to education. ensures equal rights.
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In December, India joined several other major countries in criticizing the Taliban’s decision to ban university education for women in Afghanistan. In the discussions, the officials discussed the regional threats of terrorism, extremism, radicalism and drug trafficking, and the possibilities of coordinating efforts to counter these threats, the statement said.
It added that they emphasized that “the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to shelter, train, plan or finance any terrorist acts and reaffirmed that UNSC Resolution 1267 No terrorist organization designated by Afghanistan should be provided sanctuary or allowed to use the territory.
Apart from host India, the meeting was attended by special envoys or senior officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the countries of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN World Food Program (UNWFP).
The joint statement said the officials exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan, including political, security and humanitarian aspects. “While stressing respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs, the sides reiterated support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan,” it added.
It said the country representative of UNWFP in Afghanistan briefed the participants about the India-UNWFP partnership to deliver food aid to the Afghan people and made a presentation on the current humanitarian situation including aid requirements for the coming year.
The joint statement said India announced the supply of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat aid to Afghanistan in partnership with UNWFP through the Chabahar Port.
Months after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021, India announced an aid of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the Afghan people as they grapple with a severe food crisis. Thereafter, the consignment was sent to Afghanistan using the land route through Pakistan. Islamabad had provided the transit facility after almost months of discussion.
“The sides took note of the current humanitarian situation and agreed to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people,” the statement said.
It said the UNODC’s country representative in Afghanistan highlighted India and UNODC’s partnership in fighting the drug menace in Afghanistan and thanked New Delhi for “providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan drug user population”.
“At their request, India offered capacity-building training courses to relevant stakeholders/partner agencies of UNODC and relevant officials/stakeholders of Central Asian Republics in the field of combating illicit drug trafficking,” the statement said. ”
It said the participants thanked India for convening the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Afghanistan at the level of senior officials and agreed to continue consultations in this format on a regular basis.
India has not yet recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pushing for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, while also insisting that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist activities against any country. should not be done for India has been advocating uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to address the humanitarian crisis facing the country.
In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a “technical team” at its embassy in the Afghan capital. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their safety.