Delhi Security Dialogue on Afghanistan to discuss a common approach to deal with the Afghan crisis

India will host security czars of Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries on Wednesday for a security dialogue in Afghanistan that will explore strengthening a common approach for practical cooperation in the face of threats increasing levels of terrorism, radicalization and drug trafficking following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban. .

Sources said China was invited to the “Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan”, but has already announced that it could not attend the conclave due to timing issues, while Pakistan has also decided to ignore it.

The dialogue, which will be chaired by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, will also bring together senior security officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Doval will also hold bilateral talks with his counterparts, including those from Russia and Iran.

The sources said that all participating countries have a “ very high degree of convergence ” on the security implications of the Taliban seizure of power in Afghanistan and that the objective of the dialogue will be to have cooperation on terms. practices to meet the challenge ” All participating countries want to be part of the solution to the problem. You probably can’t say that about Pakistan, ” a source said. They said the challenges of terrorism, radicalization, drug trafficking, cross-border movement of people and threats from military weapons left behind by US forces will be discussed at length during the dialogue.

The sources said that Central Asian countries are not ready to “export the ideology” of Afghanistan into their societies.

Security officials should deliberate on the cross-border movement of people from Afghanistan as well as the threat from military equipment and weapons left by US forces in that country.

The Foreign Ministry said the dialogue will see increased participation from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and countries will be represented by their NSAs. respective or the Secretaries of the Security Councils.

The high-level dialogue will review the security situation in the region resulting from recent developments in Afghanistan. It will deliberate on measures to address relevant security challenges and support the Afghan people in promoting peace, security and stability, ” he said in a statement.

MEA said India has traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations with the Afghan people and called for a unified international response to address the security and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan. “The next meeting is a step in that direction,” he said. The sources said none of the participating countries had recognized the Taliban and all had similar concerns and concerns about the situation in Afghanistan. They said there was a credibility gap between Pakistan’s actions and intentions on Afghanistan.

On the fact that China skipped the dialogue, the sources said that although it did not attend the conclave due to timing difficulties, it expressed its willingness to maintain contacts with India on Afghanistan. through bilateral and multilateral channels. “We would have been happy if China attended, but maybe the CPC Central Committee meeting could be one of the reasons they couldn’t attend,” the source said.

Pakistan had refused to attend previous editions of the NSA dialogue in Iran in 2018 and 2019 citing India’s participation, the sources said.

The Taliban were not invited because India and other participants do not recognize the current establishment in Afghanistan, they said, adding that humanitarian aid issues would certainly be part of the discussions.

The sources said India’s commitment is for the Afghan people. “What we need is basically quick access to Afghanistan and Pakistan has denied us access. If Pakistan claims to be concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, then it is very easy for Pakistan to allow Indian aid to reach Afghanistan, ” the source said.

The sources said the meeting would not lead to any formal security architecture, but could trigger a gradual shift in intensified security cooperation. They said Iran will be represented by Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, while Russia will send Nikolai P Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council.

The sources said that the chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov, will represent his country while Kyrgyzstan sends Marat Mukanovich Imankulov, secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan and Charymyrat Kakalyyevvich Amavov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan in charge of Security and Secretary of the State Security Council will represent their respective countries.

Security officials should jointly appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Doval will have bilateral meetings with his visiting counterparts. The NSA will also welcome visiting dignitaries for dinner at its residence. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi tweeted that Doval did not have an official Twitter account.

” Important alert! National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Kumar Doval KC does not have an official Twitter account. This is to warn against imposters or fake accounts under his name, ” he tweeted.

(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)