'Intra-Afghan talks not resulted in reduction of violence': Jaishankar after Qatar envoy said India officials met Taliban

New Delhi, June 23: As the senior diplomat from Qatar said that Indian officials met the Taliban, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar highlighted that "the intra-Afghan talks have not resulted in a reduction of violence in Afghanistan."

 

 

 

Addressing the UN Security Council on Tuesday through virtual mode, Jaishankar said, "India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including the intra-Afghan negotiations." He also added, "India welcomes any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan."

 

 

This statement came after Qatar’s special envoy for counter-terrorism and conflict resolution, Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, said that he believed the Indian side was engaging with the Taliban as the group is seen as a “key component” in any future government in Afghanistan.

 

“I understand that there has been a quiet visit by Indian officials…to speak with the Taliban. Why? Because not everybody is believing that the Taliban will dominate and take over, because Taliban is a key component of, or should be or is going to be a key component of the future of Afghanistan,” Al-Qahtani said. However, there was no official confirmation from the Indian government of the Indian officials travelling to Doha and meeting the Taliban.

 

 

It should be noted that Jaishankar had made two transit stop-overs in Doha, Qatar, during his recent visits to Kuwait and Kenya. He met Qatari National Security Adviser Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned, Qatari foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and minister of state for defence Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiya in separate meetings. He also held talks with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and exchanged perspectives on Afghanistan and the region.

 

At UNSC meet, Jaishankar reiterated India's support for an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. "Any political settlement in Afghanistan must ensure that the gains of the last two decades are protected, and not reversed," he said.

 

 

Further, he said, "For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately and terrorist supply chains disrupted. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including its cross-border one (in a veiled reference to Pakistan).