NSAs Meet in Delhi LIVE Updates: Nations Reiterate 'Strong Support for Peaceful, Secure and Stable Afghanistan'

The third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held in Delhi emphasised that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts, said Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan. During the meeting, the National Security Advisers/Secretaries of the National Security Councils reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs. “They expressed deep concern over the suffering of the people of Afghanistan arising from the security situation in Afghanistan and condemned the terrorist attacks in Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul,” it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met National Security Advisers of seven countries including five Central Asian countries and Russia and Iran. Earlier in the day, NSA Ajit Doval chaired the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi.

Taliban has announced that they will be in Pakistan today and join the Troika Plus meeting in Islamabad. “After Kabul, Moscow Format and other meetings, follow up discussions will be held about political, humanitarian and economic issues,” tweeted Abdul Qahar Balkhi, MoFA spokesperson in Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, referred to the regional meeting on Afghanistan in India during a press conference in Kabul and said Afghanistan is optimist about it. “Taliban is optimistic about the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue hosted by New Delhi,” TOLO News reported.

NSAs from seven countries – Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan – on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after participating in Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi.

Speaking at the NSA-level meet on Afghanistan in Delhi, Charymyrat Amanov, Secretary, Security Council of Turkmenistan said, “This meeting gives us the opportunity to find out solution over the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, and to establish peace in this region.”

The Regional Security Dialogue in New Delhi will bring together the National Security Advisors of seven important regional players—Russia, Iran, and the five Central Asian ‘stans—all with serious stakes in the stability and security of Afghanistan. There were two more invitees—the Iron Brothers’ China and Pakistan. The latter has refused to participate because it rightly feels that ‘spoilers cannot be peacemakers’—although the Pakistani NSA was taking a cheap shot at India, what he said sounded more like a mea culpa; the former is probably following the lead of its client state, though the excuse it has made is ‘scheduling problems’. Read More

“To restore peace in Afghanistan and in the region altogether, we have to find a collective solution. It is possible only through joint efforts,” said Victor Makhmudov, Secretary of Security Council of Uzbekistan at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan.

NSA Ajit Doval hoped that the deliberations will be productive. “This is a time for close consultations amongst us,” he said. “I am confident that our deliberations will be productive, useful and will contribute to help the people in Afghanistan and enhance our collective security,” he added.

The recent developments in Afghanistan have important implications not only for the people of that country but also for its neighbours and the region, NSA Ajit Doval said on Wednesday at an eight-nation dialogue hosted by India on the Afghan crisis. Chairing the meet, Doval in his opening remarks said it is time to have close consultations, greater cooperation and coordination among the regional countries on the Afghan situation. We are meeting today to discuss matters relating to Afghanistan. We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country,” Doval said. “These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region,” he said.

In his opening remarks at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, Turkmenistan’s Charymyrat Kakalyyevvich Amavov, Secretary, State Security Council expressed concerns over drug trafficking and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

“We as the neighbouring country are ready to participate in all programs that can help the people of Afghanistan,” said Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, Secretary, Security Council of Tajikistan at Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan.

Iran, Russia and all five Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, on Tuesday participated in the NSA level meeting on Afghanistan that India is hosting in Delhi. India has not invited the representatives of the Taliban to the high-level meeting as New Delhi does not recognise the government led by the insurgent group in Afghanistan.

In his opening remarks at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, Karim Massimov, Chairman, Kazakhstan National Security Committee said, “We are concerned about prevailing situation in Afghanistan. The social and economic situation of Afghans is deteriorating and the country is facing humanitarian crisis; necessary to increase humanitarian assistance.”

“This is a time for close consultations amongst us, greater cooperation and interaction and cooperation among the regional countries. I am confident that our deliberations will be productive, useful and will contribute to help people of Afghanistan and enhance or collective security,” said NSA Ajit Doval during Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi.

“I thank you for accepting India’s invitation. It’s a third meeting and the first was initiated by Iran. We are meeting today to discuss matter related to Afghanistan,” said NSA Ajit Doval during Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi.

India is hosting the third security dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi on Wednesday, called the “Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan”. The Taliban regime of Afghanistan though was not extended an invitation for the meeting. Sources said this is because India does not recognize Taliban. China was extended an invitation but could not make it due to “scheduling issues.” However, it’s the refusal of Pakistan to attend the dialogue that has elicited the sharpest response from government sources. Read More

The NSA-level meet is expected to address issues ranging from cross border terror threat, presence of terror groups, political instability to spread of extremism and radical ideas from Afghanistan. India has security concerns after the insurgent group took over power mid-August. The key agenda of the conference includes: security Challenges post-Taliban regime, stability in Afghanistan, inclusive government formation and recognition of the current dispensation to be discussed. Read More

Iran, Russia and all five Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, will participate in the NSA level meeting on Afghanistan that India will host today. Here are details of participating countries:

1. Iran – Admiral Ali Shamkhani¸ Secretary, Supreme National Security Council

2. Kazakhstan – Karim Massimov, Chairman of National Security Committee

3. Kyrgyzstan – Marat Mukanovich Imankulov, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyz Republic

4. Russia – Nikolai P. Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation

5. Tajikistan – Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, Secretary, Security Council of Tajikistan

6. Turkmenistan – Charymyrat Kakalyyevvich Amavov, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan on Security and Secretary, State Security Council

7. Uzbekistan – Victor Makhmudov, Secretary of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

About the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, sources told PTI said earlier that all the participating countries have a “very high degree of convergence” on the security implications of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan and the focus of the deliberations will be to have cooperation on practical terms to deal with the challenge.