New Delhi, Nov 10,2021: Russia, Iran and the five Central Asian countries joined India on Wednesday in stressing on a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, while calling for non-interference in its internal affairs, in an oblique reference to Pakistan that has sheltered the Afghan Taliban for years and is now engaged with its regime in Kabul.
The Delhi Declaration, issued after talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counterparts from Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, saw the eight participants also emphasise that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts.
The Declaration “reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs”.
At the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, hosted by India, the security chiefs discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan, especially the security situation and its regional and global ramifications.
The eight security chief condemned the terrorist attacks in Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul, referring to the suicide bombings carried out by the Islamic State-Khorasan in recent weeks, targeting mainly Shias. Sources in India have said they believe that Pakistan is directly behind the IS-KP and the violence unfolding in Afghanistan.
The Delhi Declaration “condemned in the strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalization, to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism”.
They also called for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region.
They also “recalled the relevant UN Resolutions on Afghanistan”, in a reference to the UNSC resolution passed on August 30 under India’s presidency, and “noted that the United Nations has a central role to play in Afghanistan and that its continued presence in the country must be preserved”.
They emphasized the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated and underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
They also called for humanitarian assistance to be provided in an “unimpeded, direct and assured manner”, and assistance to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
They reiterated the importance of their dialogue and agreed to remain engaged with each other in the future.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, NSA Doval said the developments in Afghanistan have important implications not only for the people of that country but also for its neighbours and the region and called for close consultations among countries of the region.
Iranian security chief Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani¸ in his remarks, appreciated the role of India in participating in the meetings, and said: “I think India has a great role in Afghanistan”.
He said that Afghanistan today “is involved in terrorism, poverty and misery and the crisis of migration and refugees”.
The Kazak security chief Karim Massimov, said that his country “monitors with high attention the threats and challenges that are coming from Afghanistan. With the Taliban coming to power, the situation in that country remains complicated.”
“Terrorist organisations are intensifying their activities, we are strongly concerned with the appearance of the Central Asian fighters,” he said.
Marat Mukanovich Imankulov, the security head of Kyrgyzstan, raised concerns about the activities of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan.
Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, said that multilateral meetings of the secretaries of security organisations on the Afghan issue (such as the Delhi Dialogue) “is an important format that helps to discuss the developing situation in Afghanistan at the highest level’.
He touched upon the Moscow Format meeting held last month, to which India too was invited, and remarked that all the participants of the Delhi Dialogue were also part of the third meeting of the Moscow Format held on October 25 “that confirmed its effectiveness due to the broad representation of stakeholders”.
“In Moscow we laid a good foundation to determine the position of our countries regarding the development of the dialogue with the Taliban as well as to practically coordinate our efforts of all stakeholders of the region,” he said, in reference to the Moscow Format to which the Taliban was also invited.
Nasrullo Rahmatjon Mahmudzoda, of Tajikistan, touching on the long border it shares with Afghanistan, said the current situation in Afghanistan ‘creates extra risk, and the possibilities for growth of drug trafficking, terrorism and criminal activities”.
Charymyrat Kakalyyevvich Amavov of Turkmenistan and Victor Makhmudov the security chief of Uzbekistan also addressed the gathering.
Later, all the security czars made a joint call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rupa (Arunachal Pradesh), October 19,2021: Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Pande on Tuesday said the Chinese Army’s activities have increased marginally in-depth areas across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which is under tight surveillance of the Indian Army.
“The annual training exercise that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carries out, there has been some increase in the level of activities but that is in the depth areas. Some of the reserve formations of the PLA which were mobilised have continued to remain in their training areas but that again is in operational depth. We have enhanced our surveillance both in LAC and depth areas,” Lieutenant General Pande said.
Eastern Army commander mentioned that both sides are attempting to develop infrastructure closer to LAC which leads to certain issues at times.
“As per their (PLA) strategy model, villages have come up near the border. It is a matter of concern how that can be used… We have taken cognisance of this in our plans,” he added.
There has been a marginal increase in the border defence troops, who are already deployed at the LAC.
Talking about the steps and measures taken by the Army in terms of surveillance, Lieutenant General Pande said, “We have taken a number of steps and measure. The foremost would be enhancing our surveillance in both — on the Line of Actual Control as well as depth areas. This is what we are doing by synergising efforts of all our surveillance resources, right from strategic level till the tactical level.”
Lt Gen Pande assured that adequate forces are available in each sector to deal with any contingencies that may arise said, “We are also practising and rehearsing contingencies that may come up.”
“In certain areas, we have strengthened the deployment. Largely, there has been no major increase or increment in terms of the number of forces that we have deployed at LAC,” he added.
Eastern army commander reiterated that Army is looking at maximising the potential of incorporating technology to the maximum extent possible.
Washington, Oct 19,2021: The US’ top envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has stepped down from his role, less than two months after the US’ chaotic withdrawal from Kabul.
Khalilzad will be replaced by his deputy, Tom West.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the transition.
In a tweet, Blinken thanked Khalilzad for “decades of tireless service to the United States” and welcomed Thomas West to the role of Special Representative for Afghanistan.
In a statement, Blinken said West, “who served on then-Vice President Biden’s national security team and on the National Security Council staff, will lead diplomatic efforts, advise the Secretary and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and coordinate closely with the U.S. Embassy Kabul presence in Doha on America’s interests in Afghanistan”.
Khalilzad wrote in his resignation letter on Monday that “the political arrangement between the Afghan government and the Taliban did not go forward as envisaged. The reasons for this are too complex and I will share my thoughts in the coming days and weeks after leaving government service.”
He said he decided it was the right time to step down “at a juncture when we are entering a new phase in our Afghanistan policy.”
He added that he was “saddened” for the Afghan people given the current outcome.
Khalilzad served under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden as the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation.
A diplomatic veteran who is well-known in foreign policy circles, Khalilzad has also served as a US ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations.
Khalilzad led the talks with the Taliban in Qatar that resulted in the Doha agreement with the Trump administration to fully withdraw US troops by May 2021.
Sarajevo [Bosnia and Herzegovina], October 18,2021: Bosnia and Herzegovina has the full support of NATO, which offers all its depth and capacities to BiH to preserve peace, security, democracy, sovereignty and its territorial integrity, stated the President of the Atlantic Council in BiH, Dijana Gupta.
“The EUFOR forces with the support of NATO in Sarajevo have a mandate granted through the Dayton Peace Agreement in preserving peace and security and that is never in question. We have preserved peace in BiH, our state is sacred to us and all those who in any way advocate the dissolution of BiH, the overthrow of the Constitution, encroachment on sovereignty, are the enemies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and our peoples, and most of all, themselves,” says Gupta.
She reminded that many administrations have come and gone through history but that Bosnia and Herzegovina has never changed its borders. She believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina is much more than any individual wishes to perceive of himself.
“Milorad Dodik is often in collision with what he says and what he does. He has fallen into a trap and I think it is best for him to return to the framework of BiH politics as a member of the Presidency from the ranks of the Serb people. BiH trusted Dodik when he came to that position, now he must trust us and our peoples and engage in a dialogue of reconciliation and compromise,” said Gupta.
She added that we are lucky in Bosnia and Herzegovina that Cristian Shmit came to the position of High Representative.
“He is a very wise and clever man who comes from real politics. He is an expert when it comes to legal science and law. The European Union has sent a signal and a statement, as well as the Quint’s ambassadors, to remain committed to building democracy and the territorial integrity of BiH. This is our belief that our country is not alone and that it has the support from different sides,” said Dijana Gupta, President of the Atlantic Council in BiH.
Madrid, Oct 12,2021: Spain has begun the second phase of evacuation of Afghans who collaborated with it and their families, a plane with refugees landed on Monday evening at a military base in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid, the Spanish government said.
A total of 84 people arrived on board the plane, which arrived from Islamabad, Pakistan, it said.
The first plane of this second phase was met by the foreign, defense and migration ministers.
In September, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares visited Pakistan to seek the country’s support in coordinating the evacuation of Afghans.
Since the beginning of the evacuation from Afghanistan, Spain has transported 2,300 people from that country.
New Delhi, October 7,2021: Pakistan-based terrorist groups are using hybrid terrorists to disrupt the atmosphere of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, said top government sources on Thursday.
The information comes on a day when two teachers were killed by terrorists in Srinagar.
“The hybrid terrorists used by these terror groups for these targeted killings are mostly engaged in normal jobs and are used for such killings using small weapons. They return to their normal routine after carrying out such acts,” top government sources told ANI.
They said the security forces have received inputs about many of these youth and strict action is underway.
Sources said the number of such youth is quite significant and their identification is being done rapidly.
The union territory has reported several terror attacks in the last three days.
Two teachers were killed in a terrorist attack at a government school in the Eidgah area of Srinagar on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, a street hawker was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar.
New Delhi, Sep 30,2021: India on Thursday rejected Beijing’s second attempt within a week to put the blame on New Delhi for the border disturbances, saying it had no basis in facts, and added that it was China’s amassing of a large number of troops on the border and their provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts to alter status quo that led to the deadly skirmish last year.
“We had already made our position clear a few days back that we reject such statements which have no basis in facts,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“It was the amassing of large number of troops by the Chinese side, their provocative behaviour and unilateral attempts to alter status quo in contravention of all our bilateral agreements that resulted in serious disturbance of peace and tranquility along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh,” he said.
“China continues to deploy large number of troops and armaments in the border areas. It was in response to Chinese actions, that our armed forces had to make appropriate counter deployments in these areas to ensure that India’s security interests are fully protected.
“As emphasized by EAM in his meeting with Chinese FM earlier this month, it is our expectation that the Chinese side will work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols,” he said.
The response was to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying saying on Wednesday that India has “long pursued a ‘forward policy’ and illegally crossed the LAC to encroach on China’s territory, which is the root cause of the China-India border tension. China opposes any arms race in the disputed border areas for the purpose of competition over control,” she said.
On September 24 too, India had rejected China’s attempts to put the blame for the Galwan Valley incident of last year on New Delhi,.
During his bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 16 on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had conveyed that it is necessary to ensure progress in resolution of the remaining issues on the border in eastern Ladakh in order to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC and noted that this has been an essential basis for progress in the bilateral ties.
The EAM had emphasized that the two sides should work towards early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by the bilateral agreements and protocols.
Sept 25,2021:The dispute between Myanmar’s military rulers and the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi that they ousted about who should represent the country at the United Nations hasn’t been resolved. But what appears virtually certain is that neither will speak at the General Assembly’s annual meeting of world leaders.
Myanmar was scheduled to be one of the final speakers at the six-day gathering on the afternoon of September 27. But U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric on September 24 said, “At this point, Myanmar is not speaking.”
New York, Sep 25,2021: India on Friday slammed Pakistan as an “arsonist disguising itself as a firefighter” and a country that nurtures terrorists in its backyard as a matter of state policy which has led the entire region and world to suffer, in reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tirade against the country at the UN General Assembly.
Sneha Dubey, First Secretary in India’s UN Mission, in a scathing attack on Pakistan, also reminded the world that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was sheltered in Pakistan.
“The world has not forgotten that the mastermind behind the dastardly event Osama bin Laden got shelter in Pakistan,” she said, and added that the Pakistani leadership continues to glorify Osama as a martyr.
“Regrettably, even today we heard the leader of Pakistan trying to justify acts of terror. Such defence of terrorism is unacceptable in the modern world,” she said, exercising India’s Right of Reply.
Referring to the state of minorities in Pakistan, she said: “Today, the minorities in Pakistan, the Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, live in constant fear and state-sponsored suppression of their rights. This is a regime where anti-Semitism is normalised by its leadership and even justified. Dissenting voices are muzzled daily and enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings are well documented.”
Responding to Imran Khan’s claims about treatment of minorities in India, the young diplomat said: “Pluralism is a concept which is very difficult to understand for Pakistan which constitutionally prohibits its minorities from aspiring for high offices of the State. The least they could do is introspect before exposing themselves to ridicule on the world stage”
“Unlike Pakistan, India is a pluralistic democracy with a substantial population of minorities who have gone on to hold highest offices in the country including as President, Prime Minister, Chief Justices and Chiefs of Army staff. India is also a country with a free media and an independent judiciary that keeps a watch and protects our Constitution.”
On Imran Khan’s allegations of “war crimes” by India, she referred to the genocide perpetrated in Bangladesh in 1971 during and before the War of Independence in which more than 300,000 people were killed by Pakistan and hundreds of thousand women raped.
“This is also the country that still holds the despicable record in our region of having executed a religious and cultural genocide against the people of what is now Bangladesh.
“As we mark the 50th anniversary this year of that horrid event in history, there is not even an acknowledgement much less accountability.”
“This is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world’s attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down.”
“This is a country which has been globally recognized as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of State policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council,” she said.
Categorically emphasising India’s position, she said: “Let me reiterate here that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.”
On the conditions for peace, she said: “We desire normal relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan. However, it is for Pakistan to work sincerely towards creating a conducive atmosphere, including by taking credible, verifiable and irreversible actions to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross border terrorism against India in any manner.”
Geneva, Sep 14,2021: China will donate, in the first batch, 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan, with more emergency supplies to follow, a senior Chinese diplomat said here.
China has decided to urgently provide food, materials for winter, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines worth 200 million yuan to Afghanistan, said Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva.
China has always respected the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan as its close neighbor, adhered to non-interference in its internal affairs and pursued a friendly policy towards all Afghan people, Chen said on Monday.
“China will continue to respect the Afghan people’s wish and needs, and do its best to support Afghanistan in its peaceful reconstruction and economic development,” the Chinese envoy told the High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan.
Chen also said that China supports the UN in playing a bigger role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and helping Afghanistan achieve a smooth transition and embark on the path of peaceful development at an early date.
“China welcomes UN’s flash appeal for humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, support UN to strengthen cooperation with other multilateral mechanisms related to the Afghanistan issue and form synergy by complementing each other,” he noted.
He told the meeting that under the current circumstances, the international community needs to step up assistance to Afghanistan.
The United States and its allies were more obligated to provide economic, livelihood and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, he said.
“The evolving situation of Afghanistan once again shows that only by respecting the sovereignty, independence and territory integrity of Afghanistan, respecting the will of the Afghan people, and adhering to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned principle can the international community truly play a constructive role in Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction,” he said.
Washington DC [US], September 1,2021: As foreign forces concluded their drawdown from Kabul, the United States said that they have entered a “new chapter” of engagement with Afghanistan.
The US completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan on August 30, ending one of its longest wars. In a matter of few weeks, US and Coalition forces evacuated more than 123,000 civilians out of Afghanistan and slightly more than 6,000 of them were US citizens.
“And our work continues, as you heard from the Secretary (Anthony Blinken). A new chapter of America’s engagement with Afghanistan has begun,” US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said in a press briefing.
Price said that the US will continue to facilitate safe travel of people out of Afghanistan, including by doing everything they can to support the reopening of Kabul airport. “We are focused and clear-eyed as we enter this new chapter with Afghanistan,” he added.
Price said that the US will manage their diplomacy for the way ahead with Afghanistan via Doha.
As US and allied forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, a resolution was passed by the UN Security Council on Monday, requiring the Taliban to honour their commitment to let people freely leave Afghanistan.
“And yesterday, the UNSC passed a resolution, a resolution that enshrines that responsibility, thereby laying the groundwork for another mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable if they do not follow through,” said State Department Spokesperson.
The US has been in contact with Americans who are still on the ground in Afghanistan and provided them with information on how to continue to stay in touch after the US troops’ withdrawal, he added.
“We have already been in touch with the American citizens in Afghanistan who either decided to remain there or who are unable to be evacuated,” Price said.
He said nearly 100 Americans remain in Afghanistan and Washington will continue to be in contact with them as it explores options for their evacuation. “We’re exploring every potential option to bring any American out of the country who wishes to depart,” Price said.
New Delhi , August 17,2021: The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said the Indian Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately, in view of prevailing circumstances in Afghanistan.
“In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a Tweet.
Meanwhile, sources said that an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft has taken off from Kabul with more than 120 Indian officials. They were brought inside the secure areas of the airport safely on Monday evening.
India is closely monitoring the fast-changing situation in Afghanistan and will be deciding on the evacuation of diplomatic personnel from Kabul, sources said.
Afghanistan government collapsed on Sunday with President Ashraf Ghani leaving the country, the New York Times reported.
Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and took control of the presidential palace. Taliban leaders have been discussing future government plans in Doha after gaining control of Kabul and seizing the presidential palace in Afghanistan’s capital, as per a media report.
Panic has gripped the Afghan capital as people fear a return to the Taliban’s brutal rule and the threat of reprisal killings.
Thousands of Afghans flooded the tarmac on Monday morning, at one point swarming around a departing US military plane as it taxied down the runway.