Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan: India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chaired the 'Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan' in Delhi on November 10, 2021. The National Security Advisers and Secretaries of National Security Councils of India, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting.
The participants discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan, especially the security situation and emphasised that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts.
They adopted the Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan in which they reiterated their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasising the respect for unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs.
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: Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/GNNKt5khRM
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
The NSAs of 5 Central Asian countries and Russia and Iran also called upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets NSAs of seven countries including 5 Central Asian countries and Russia and Iran
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval today chaired the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Delhi pic.twitter.com/jh41gSQdAM
Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan: Key Highlights
•The National Security Advisers paid special attention to the political situation in Afghanistan and the threats arising from radicalisation, terrorism and drug trafficking and the need for providing humanitarian assistance.
•All the participants reiterated strong support for a peaceful and secure Afghanistan and expressed deep concern over the suffering of Afghans and condemned terrorist attacks in Kabul, Kandahar and Kunduz.
•They emphasised that Afghanistan's territory should be used for training, sheltering, planning or financing any terrorist act.
•They also condemned all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms including terror financing and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism.
"... to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism: Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
•They also called for collective cooperation against the menace of radicalisation, separatism, extremism and drug trafficking in the region.
•They also stressed on the need to form an open and inclusive government that represents the will of all people of Afghanistan and includes representation from all sections of the society, including major ethnopolitical forces in the country.
•The participants further noted that the United Nations has a central role to play in Afghanistan and its continued presence in the country must be preserved.
•They also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated.
The participants emphasized the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated. Also underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan: Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
•They also underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
•They also reiterated their commitment to assist Afghanistan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The participants of the Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan reiterated their commitment to provide assistance to Afghanistan to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
•They also reiterated the importance of their dialogue and agreed to remain engaged with each other in the future and thanked India for hosting the third regional security dialogue on Afghanistan and agreed to hold the next round in 2022.
SignificanceThe Delhi Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was different from the dialogues led by foreign affairs ministries, as it focused mainly on security and there was an attempt to find solutions to forge a common approach to tackle the threats emanating from Afghanistan. It is also the first-of-its-kind dialogue to be hosted by India on Afghanistan and the first time that all central Asian countries participated in this format and not just Afghanistan’s immediate land neighbours. Further, none of the participating eight countries including India recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan. India had also said earlier that it does not recognize it, which is why it did not invited the Taliban for the dialogue. |
Background
Iran had hosted meetings in a similar format in September 2018 and December 2019. The third meeting, which was scheduled to be held in India, could not be held earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While China did participate in the earlier meetings, Pakistan didn't attend any of the meetings.
India had invited Pakistan and China as well to participate in the meeting but Pakistan indicated through media that it will not attend. China also informed that it would be unable to attend due to a scheduling issue but it is open for dialogue with India on Afghanistan multilaterally and bilaterally. Pakistan has not attended any of the previous meetings of this format.
Delhi Security Dialogue on Afghanistan is different from dialogues led by foreign affairs ministries. This dialogue focuses on security. There'll be an attempt to find solutions &how to forge a common approach to meet challenges on the threats emanating from Afghanistan: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2021
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