India’s Jaishankar addresses inaugural session of historic intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha
He highlighted India’s role as a major development partner of Afghanistan with over 400 projects completed in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, and has supplied more than a million tonnes of foodgrains to the war-torn country in recent years.
By IAR Desk
New Delhi: September 12,2020: Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has participated in the inaugural session of the historic intra-Afghan negotiations being held in Doha today through a virtual platform. Jaishankar was invited to participate in the session by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, H.E. Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
In his address, the Indian minister referred to the millennia old relationship between India and Afghanistan, which he said had withstood the test of time. He highlighted India’s role as a major development partner of Afghanistan with over 400 projects completed in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, and has supplied more than a million tonnes of foodgrains to the war-torn country in recent years.
India has also facilitated the travel of Afghan citizens to India for medical treatment, the minister pointed out. “These are the examples of our deep commitment to the welfare, prosperity and stability of the Afghan nation.”
Pointing out that India’s policy on Afghanistan had been “consistent”. Jaishankar reiterated the long held Indian position that any peace process must be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled”, and which has to “respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and preserve the progress made in the establishment of a democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.” The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed, he reiterated.
He stressed that Afghan soil should never be used for carrying out anti-India activities.
Jaishankar concluded his address by wishing the Intra-Afghan negotiations success in delivering to the people of Afghanistan what they have longed for – a peaceful and prosperous future in an independent and sovereign nation.
India has also sent a senior official delegation led by J P Singh, Joint Secretary (PAI) in the Ministry of External Affairs to participate in the inaugural ceremony in Doha.
The Intra-Afghan talks are the first in 20 years since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. They are an outcome of the peace agreement signed between the USA and the Taliban in Doha in February this year.
