Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday discussed his country’s peace process with national security adviser Ajit Doval, who told him that India is in favor of a sovereign and democratic Afghanistan “where terrorists cannot operate.”
Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation in Afghanistan, met with Doval on Wednesday night to brief him on the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.
Doval hosted a dinner for Abdullah’s delegation which was attended by Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla, Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General MM Naravane, senior officials from the Ministry of Affairs Foreign and key members of the Superior Council for National Reconciliation.
Abdullah tweeted that he had a “constructive discussion” with Doval about the Afghan peace process and the Doha talks. “He [Doval] He assured me of India’s full support for peace efforts and that any peace agreement acceptable to Afghans will be supported by India, ”said Abdullah.
“He [Doval] He further stated that his country is in favor [of] an independent, democratic, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan, where no terrorist can operate ”, he added.
Abdullah also thanked India for its continued support for Afghanistan and its “constructive role in the peace efforts.”
There was no official news about the meeting from the Indian side.
Abdullah arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon for a five-day visit, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Friday.
He will also deliver a speech at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA) on Thursday.
Before his arrival in India, Abdullah issued a statement describing India as a “strategic partner of Afghanistan”. He said: “Our historic relationship with India is very important to us, and India’s role in establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region is vital. I am visiting India at the official invitation of the Government of India to discuss peace efforts and the need for regional consensus and support for the Afghan peace process. ”
Abdullah’s visit is part of an outreach to key countries in the region to support the Doha negotiations. He traveled to India after a three-day visit to Pakistan last week.
In Islamabad, he had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa. Abdullah told Pakistani leaders that a message on reducing violence and showing greater flexibility in the negotiations should be conveyed to Taliban leaders participating in the Doha negotiations.
India, the region’s largest provider of development aid to Afghanistan, has expressed concern about the recent surge in violence by the Taliban and terrorist attacks against minorities such as Sikhs. He has said that negotiations within Afghanistan must guarantee the interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sectors of society and reduce violence in and around Afghanistan.
Since 2001, India has undertaken projects worth $ 3 billion in Afghanistan, including $ 1 billion pledged in 2016 under the “new partnership for development” scheme for five years.
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