NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar set out India’s red lines for the settlement process in Afghanistan during a UNSC debate even as a Qatari official revealed that there was a “quiet visit by Indian officials to speak with the Taliban”.
Jaishankar called on the international community to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism by immediate dismantling of terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries and disruption of their supply chains.
The statement comes after Jaishankar stopped over twice in a week in Doha, the venue for peace talks with the Taliban. Ministry of External Affairs officials said he met the Qatari Foreign Minister and the NSA, besides US Special Representative on Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad.
The MEA did not comment on reports about the meeting between Indian officials and the Taliban.
India’s call to crack down on violence and terrorism, including the cross-border variety, comes ahead of Friday’s meeting between US President Joe Biden with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who also underline this point.
As a starting point, Jaishankar said the international community must press for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire because intra-Afghan talks have not resulted in reduction of violence in Afghanistan. On the contrary, violence has only increased, especially after May 1.
Reiterating his call for “double peace” — peace within and around Afghanistan — he said the negotiating parties are yet to tangibly demonstrate a commitment to engage in good faith and eschew the path to find a military solution.
“Any political settlement in Afghanistan must ensure that the gains of the last two decades are protected, and not reversed by preserving the constitutional democratic framework and ensuring the protection of rights of women, children and minorities,” he said.
“It is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country. Those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable,” he observed.