India chairs security dialogue on Afghanistan, seeks greater consultation on Kabul

New Delhi, November 10: Keeping an eye on the Taliban, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chaired the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on Wedensday. While opening the conference, he said that the recent developments in Afghanistan have important implications not only for the people of that country but also for its neighbours and the region.

 

 

"We are meeting today to discuss the matters relating to Afghanistan. We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region," Doval said.

 

The meeting was attended by Doval's counterparts from five central Asian countries, along with Russia and Iran. National Security Advisers and Secretaries of security councils of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the dialogue.

 

During the meeting, Doval also stressed the need to have "close consultations" among the regional leaders and said it is time to have "greater cooperation and coordination" on the Afghan situation. "This is a time for close consultations amongst us, greater cooperation & interaction, and cooperation among the regional countries. I'm confident that our deliberations will be productive, useful, and will contribute to help people of Afghanistan &enhance or collective security, " he added.

 

 

 

Moreover, expressing concern about the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, Karim Massimov, Chairman, Kazakhstan's National Security Committee, said that the social and economic situation of Afghans is deteriorating and the country is facing a humanitarian crisis; it's necessary to increase humanitarian assistance.

 

Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani¸ secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, referred to the challenges of terrorism and a refugee crisis and said, "The solution comes only through the formation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic groups."

  

While Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s security council, called for practical measures to deal with threats and challenges emanating from Afghan territory. Noting the proliferation of dialogue mechanisms on Afghanistan, including the Moscow Format and the Turkic Council, he said it was important that these forums should not duplicate work but complement each other.

 

 

 

He also noted that the Moscow Format, which held its third meeting in the Russian capital on October 20, has important potential to coordinate efforts to settle the Afghanistan issue. "In Moscow, we laid a good foundation to determine the position of our countries regarding the development of the dialogue with the Taliban as well as to practically coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders of the region," Patrushev said.

 

Tajikistan’s security council secretary Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda said his country was concerned about developments following the Taliban takeover because it has a long border with Afghanistan.

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