After US-Taliban meltdown, India calls for direct talks with Kabul

In the first reaction since US President Donald Trump called off talks with Taliban, India has called for direct talks, stating that outcomes of any agreement should be based on constitutional legitimacy.

India’s envoy to United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, speaking at the Quarterly Debate on United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said, “It is the Afghan people who will implement and bear the consequences of any agreements arrived at. Hence, outcomes which have constitutional legitimacy and a political mandate and are arrived at in an inclusive and democratic way alone can ensure stability.”. He added, “We, therefore, support the Secretary General’s call for direct talks.”

Further, extensively highlighting the issue of cross-border terror, the Indian envoy called for an atmosphere free of terror for peace and reconciliation to go forward. He said, “The support and safe havens enjoyed from beyond Afghanistan’s borders by groups such as the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaeda and its proscribed affiliates, including the LeT and JeM, must be addressed.”

There has been a surge of violence in Afghanistan, which Syed said is “deepening apprehensions that terror is being used to jockey for a place of advantage in the negotiations.” 

Zee Media Newsroom