Afghan soil shouldn’t be used to export terror, says US

TNN | Sep 16, 2020, 04:25 IST

NEW DELHI: Mindful of India's security concerns, the US on Tuesday said the Afghan sides in the ongoing peace process should ensure their territory is not used by any terrorist group against any other country.
This followed a visit to India by the US special representative on Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, during which he briefed India about the US assessment of intra-Afghan negotiations (IAN) and shared the American perspective on the Afghan peace process.
The US and India shared the view that the peace process must continue until there was agreement on a political roadmap and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, the US said in a statement. Importantly for India, the US also said after Khalilzad’s visit that the Afghan sides should ensure their territory "must not be used" by any terrorist group against any other country.
Khalilzad called on foreign minister S Jaishankar in the presence of NSA Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Harsh Shringla. This was his fifth visit to India since January 2019.
"Khalilzad appreciated India’s participation in the intra-Afghan negotiations held in Doha on September 12. The two sides discussed future steps and possible cooperation between India and the US in furthering the Afghan peace process," an Indian government source said.
They also deliberated upon how to promote regional and international cooperation with regard to Afghanistan. India outlined its security concerns and emphasised that under no circumstances should Afghan territory be used to carry out anti-India activities.
Khalilzad stressed that regional and international support was critical for the success of these negotiations and the implementation of any agreement. India and the US will work together in support of this objective.
"The United States and India expressed similar views on the importance of long-term assistance, trade and investment for consolidating a peace agreement for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan, the region and beyond," the US statement said.