National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday participated in the 5th Multilateral Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils/National Security Advisers on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia.

Apart from the host country, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were represented at the meeting. Various issues related to Afghanistan were discussed, including the security situation and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan.

Speaking at the meeting, Doval said that India will never abandon Afghans in their time of need. “Afghanistan is passing through a difficult phase. India has a historical and special relationship with Afghanistan. Well-being and humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan are India’s foremost priorities. This will continue to guide our approach,” said Doval at the meeting.

With regards to food security and medical supplies, Doval said that India has so far delivered 40,000 MT of wheat, 60 tonnes of medicines, 500,000 Covid vaccines, winter clothes and 28 tonnes of disaster relief to Afghanistan. “India’s technical team is overseeing our humanitarian assistance programme. Standing with Afghans, India has granted fresh scholarships to 2260 Afghan students including 300 Afghan girls during the past two years,” said Doval.

The NSA placed great emphasis on the need for intensified intelligence and security cooperation to deal with Daesh and terror outfits like LeT and JeM. “An inclusive and representative dispensation is in the larger interest of Afghan society. Terrorism has become a major threat in the region,” said NSA Doval.

Notably, India reaffirmed the importance of UNSCR 2593 (2021) which calls for terror outfits including those designated by UNSCR 1267 to be denied sanctuary in the region.

According to Doval, “No country should be allowed to use Afghan territory to export terrorism and radicalisation. Natural resources of Afghanistan should be utilised first for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan. India is and will remain an important stakeholder in Afghanistan. We always stood by the people of Afghanistan and will always support collective efforts to help Afghan people build a prosperous and vibrant nation once again.”

The 3rd round of this Conference was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of NSA Ajit Doval in November 2021. The 4th meeting was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May last year.

Image courtesy: PTI