The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on March 30, 2021, met with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and discussed bilateral ties as well as trade, investment cooperation between the two nations.
While informing about the meeting, the minister mentioned that there was discussion on trade and investment cooperation, bilateral ties, the situation in Afghanistan, and strengthening the political cooperation between India and Tajikistan. He added that India stands with Tajikistan in its fight against the Pandemic.
Thank President @EmomaliRahmon of Tajikistan for receiving me. Conveyed the greetings of President Kovind & PM Modi. Discussed expanding our bilateral economic and development cooperation. Appreciated his assessment of the Afghan situation. pic.twitter.com/wh0jbT5P9V
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021
The Union Minister who is on a three-day visit to Tajikistan also attended the ‘Heart of Asia’ Conference on March 30 at the joint invitation of his counterparts from Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
India and Tajikistan to strengthen relations in various fields:
The External Affairs Minister has met various delegates during his three days trip to Tajikistan.
Apart from the President, the Union Minister met the Defence Minister of Tajikistan Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, and also discussed ways for further strengthening the security and defence cooperation.
The Minister informed about the meeting via a tweet and termed the discussion with Tajikistan’s Defence Minister as productive.
Productive discussions with Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo of Tajikistan. Focused on further strengthening our defence & security cooperation. pic.twitter.com/ZHuGrWildI
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021
EAM also met the Executive Director of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia- CICA, Kairat Sarybay on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference.
Jaishankar informed about the meeting via Twitter and informed that he reiterated India’s commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia. They also agreed to work together to strengthen CICA.
Glad to receive @CicaSecretariat
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2021
Executive Director @KairatSarybay on the sidelines of @HeartofAsia_IP. Reiterated India’s commitment to a pluralistic cooperative security order in Asia. Agreed to work together to further strengthen CICA. pic.twitter.com/jBSW0IEuYU
EAM S. Jaishankar discusses Afghan Peace Process with Afghanistan President:
The Union Minister during his visit to Tajikistan also met the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and discussed the Afghan Peace Process.
He shared the news of the meeting via Twitter. The talks took place before the commencement of the Heart of Asia Conference which focuses on the regional and international consensus for Afghan Peace.
Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process. pic.twitter.com/6s8HuTwkJO
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2021
Both Jaishankar and Ghani were in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to attend the 9th Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process Conference.
For durable peace in Afghanistan, there is a need for genuine ‘double peace: S. Jaishankar in Heart of Asia Conference |
| While speaking at the Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process conference on March 30, 2021, EAM S. Jaishankar highlighted that there is a need for double peace- peace in and around Afghanistan, while also stressing the significance of negotiating in good faith to reach a political solution. He also noted that in the last few months, there has been an escalation in targeted killings of civil society and added that 2020 has marked a 45% increase in the civilian casualties in Afghanistan over 2019. The Minister further suggested that for durable peace in Afghanistan, there is a need for genuine double peace, that is, peace within and around Afghanistan. He also called on the conference members to work on an immediate reduction of violence in Afghanistan. |
| India will support permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan: During the Heart of Asia Conference, EAM assured that India has been supportive of any form of efforts that are being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Jaishankar further mentioned India will welcome any move for the political settlement and a permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan. He also pointed that India supports a regional process to be convened under the United Nations. While informing about India-Afghanistan relations, he mentioned that the development partnership of USD 3 billion between the two countries has been aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation. |
Significance:
The Heart of Asia Conference, hosted in Tajikistan, has been focused on strengthening an international and regional consensus for Afghan Peace.
| The conference comes in the backdrop of the ongoing peace in Afghanistan. It has been reported recently that the US has been reviewing the Doha Agreement with the Taliban while keeping all the options on the table when it comes to the May 1st deadline for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. |
The Agreement was signed in February 2020 between the US and the Taliban. It calls for the complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan if the Taliban upholds counterterrorism commitments like defying a safe haven to al Qaeda.
Heart of Asia Conference:
The Conference was launched in 2011 as an Initiative by Ankara and Kabul in order to help Afghanistan achieve peace. 15 countries are members of the Heart of Asia Conference and host it once every year. The meeting was not held in 2020 because of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
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