India to take part in Russia-organised Afghan meet mid-February in Moscow
NEW DELHI: India will take part in an international meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow mid-February organized by Russia in what is an acknowledgement of Delhi’s key role in stablising the war-torn country less than two months after India did not figure in Russia-China-Pak trilateral meet on the issue.
“We have a common understanding that there is the need to boost efforts (for reconciliation in Afghanistan),” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted by news agency TASS as saying. “In this context, we confirmed the invitation for the Afghan colleagues for another meeting on Afghanistan’s settlement due in mid-February in Moscow, with participation of representatives of Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Iran and India.”
Officials here told ET that India will be part of the six-nation meet where yet again Delhi and Islamabad will be in the same room after the SAARC meet in Kathmandu last week. India confirmed its participation at the meet when National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval was in Moscow last month.
“We expect that all partners will be represented at a high level, and most of them have already confirmed their participation,” Lavrov further said. India has been favouring a regional approach to the Afghan stability that also includes regional stakeholders like Iran and Russia. Last December India hosted Heart of Asia meet on Afghanistan in Amritsar with a clear message to defeat cross terror infrastructure. Afghan President participating in the meet had a blunt message for terror sanctuaries in Pakistan.
The announcement of the mid-February meet came after Lavrov met his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani in Moscow on Tuesday.
“Russia and Afghanistan are old-time and close partners, and are interested in cooperation in security, humanitarian and economic areas,” Lavrov was quoted by TASS telling Rabbani. “We support efforts of Afghanistan’s leadership in stabilizing the situation in the country and in the war on terror.”
It is understood that India-USA-Afghanistan will also hold their trilateral meet on the Afghan situation in what would be first such meeting under the Trump Presidency. US President Donald Trump has yet to announce his policy on Afghanistan.
“We have a common understanding that there is the need to boost efforts (for reconciliation in Afghanistan),” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted by news agency TASS as saying. “In this context, we confirmed the invitation for the Afghan colleagues for another meeting on Afghanistan’s settlement due in mid-February in Moscow, with participation of representatives of Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Iran and India.”
Officials here told ET that India will be part of the six-nation meet where yet again Delhi and Islamabad will be in the same room after the SAARC meet in Kathmandu last week. India confirmed its participation at the meet when National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval was in Moscow last month.
“We expect that all partners will be represented at a high level, and most of them have already confirmed their participation,” Lavrov further said. India has been favouring a regional approach to the Afghan stability that also includes regional stakeholders like Iran and Russia. Last December India hosted Heart of Asia meet on Afghanistan in Amritsar with a clear message to defeat cross terror infrastructure. Afghan President participating in the meet had a blunt message for terror sanctuaries in Pakistan.
The announcement of the mid-February meet came after Lavrov met his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani in Moscow on Tuesday.
“Russia and Afghanistan are old-time and close partners, and are interested in cooperation in security, humanitarian and economic areas,” Lavrov was quoted by TASS telling Rabbani. “We support efforts of Afghanistan’s leadership in stabilizing the situation in the country and in the war on terror.”
It is understood that India-USA-Afghanistan will also hold their trilateral meet on the Afghan situation in what would be first such meeting under the Trump Presidency. US President Donald Trump has yet to announce his policy on Afghanistan.
