Pakistan boycotted the first regional meeting hosted by India pertaining to matters related to Afghanistan. China also declined the invitation claiming a clash of schedule.
Security Analysts and diplomats from neighboring countries except China and Pakistan were in attendance. Representatives from India, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan gathered in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss future engagement with the Taliban.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement stating that the meeting will focus on “the relevant security challenges and support the people of Afghanistan in promoting peace, security, and stability”.
Top security advisor of India Ajit Doval said, “We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbors and the region.”
China excused itself from attending the meeting owing to a schedule clash while Pakistan boycotted the conference following National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf’s accusing India of being a ‘spoiler’ in the region.
India’s MEA officials said that Islamabad’s refusal to participate in the meeting was “unfortunate, but not surprising” and “reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate”.
Earlier last month, India held its first official meeting with the Taliban officials in Qatar. A number of other countries attending the conference have also arranged meetings with the Taliban in the months following their takeover of Afghanistan.
It has not yet been determined if the Taliban had been invited to the conference by New Delhi.
Kabul’s foreign minister visits Pakistan
Earlier on Wednesday, Amir Khan Muttaqi who serves as the acting foreign minister for the government of the Taliban commenced a three-day visit to Pakistan. A Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan also expressed optimism regarding the meetings held in Islamabad, Tehran, Moscow, and New Delhi as they exhibited the importance of Afghanistan in the region.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “We are optimistic, because the whole region needs stability and security in Afghanistan… the meetings that are going to happen to pave the way to understanding, and they are hopefully in the benefit of Afghanistan”.
In the last few weeks, a number of international donors have pledged over $1.1 billion to help Afghanistan. A large number of Afghans are fleeing the country on a daily basis to escape the escalating poverty and hunger.
