India at UN backs peace in Afghanistan and calls for immediate ceasefire
24 Mar 2021 12:59:20
New Delhi, Mar 24: India has reiterated its commitment and support to Afghanistan peace plan over and over again, for may it be in New Delhi where Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar held high-level parleys with EAM S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Mar 23, or whether in New York, at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
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Besides, India has also called for an immediate ceasefire in view of rising violence levels in Afghanistan. India's permanent representative at the UNSC, TS Tirumurti said while addressing the UNSC debate on Afghanistan that "India believes that an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Afghanistan is the need of the hour. This is not only in the interest of the people of Afghanistan, who have been the victims of unrelenting violence, but a basic prerequisite for the success of the peace process."
The Indian representative further added that "It goes without saying that talks and violence cannot go hand in hand. Such a process must be transparent, inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, fully respecting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan." India asserted that it supports all efforts towards achieving sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.
India once again reiterated at UNSC meet on Afghanistan that terrorist safe havens should be dismantled and those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable. In New Delhi, the Afghan Foreign Minister during his meeting with Jaishankar on the peace process, the two sides reviewed the Troika Peace Meeting in Moscow and assessed the final declaration of the meeting as positive for strengthening and advancing the peace process.
The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan who is touring India held back-to-back talks with Jaishankar and NSA Doval. During the meeting with NSA, both discussed the peace plan of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the success of Afghanistan peace negotiations.