India and seven other countries, including Russia and Iran, reiterated their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan at the NSA summit held in New Delhi on Wednesday. In the regional security summit hosted by India and hosted by eight countries, the participating countries stressed on respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and not interfering in its internal affairs.
The third regional security dialogue on Afghanistan was hosted by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and attended by counterparts from Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries. The participating countries expressed deep concern at the suffering of the people of Afghanistan arising out of the security situation in the war-torn country and condemned the terrorist attacks in Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul.
India and seven other countries also stressed that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used for harboring, training, planning or financing any terrorist act. The declaration said the authorities strongly condemned all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including its financing. It also noted the need to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and counter extremism to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for global terrorism.
Presiding over the meeting, Doval said that it is time for closer consultation, greater cooperation and coordination among regional countries to deal with the challenges posed by Afghanistan. “We are all keenly watching the developments in that country. This has important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbors and the region,” he said.
The countries unanimously condemned terrorist activities and reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure. The countries also called for combating radicalization to ensure that Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven for global terrorism.
The participating countries also called for collective cooperation against the threat of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region. They stressed the need to simultaneously form an inclusive government representing the will of the people of Afghanistan and involve all sections of society in the administrative and political structure in the reconciliation process in the country.
“It is time for closer consultation, greater cooperation and dialogue and coordination among regional countries,” he said. The talks aim to strengthen a common vision for practical cooperation in countering the growing threats of terrorism, radicalization and drug trafficking following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
Both Pakistan and China were also invited by India but they decided not to attend the meeting. The participating Central Asian countries in the dialogue are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.