Jaishankar meets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, discusses Taliban

Worries over rising violence and Taliban good points in Afghanistan overshadowed External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s conferences forward of a connectivity convention right here on Thursday, as he known as on Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and met the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser and Special Envoy, in addition to different Foreign Ministers.

“Discussed the situation in and around Afghanistan. Reiterated our support for peace, stability and development of Afghanistan,” Mr. Jaishankar tweeted after the assembly, which centered on the speedy developments and advances by the militia inside days of the U.S. and NATO troops pullout from Bagram airbase this month.

Also learn | Future of Afghanistan can’t be its previous: Jaishankar

According to sources, the Ghani authorities is conducting a evaluation of the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) army technique which might see it shift techniques in coping with the Taliban, which have claimed a number of key cities and border verify put up areas within the final week. This was the primary high-level assembly between Delhi and Kabul for the reason that authorities determined to drag out all Indian personnel from the Consulate in Kandahar. Internal assessments have instructed that whereas the Taliban has not been profitable in transferring in to many extra populated cities, it can search to manage Kandahar, which was its conventional base. Officials stated President Ghani was ‘determined’ to take again among the strategic areas taken over by the Taliban.

Mr. Jaishankar additionally met U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, who’re attending the convention, and are understood to be discussing the opportunity of an American army base in one of many Central Asian international locations, together with in Uzbekistan, the place the U.S. had shut down its Karshi-Khanabad base in 2009.

Mr. Jaishankar stated he had “exchanged views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan”. India has been cautious concerning the U.S. choice earlier this yr to drag out its troops completely from Afghanistan, with out ready for both a ceasefire or for a political settlement between the Afghan authorities’s representatives and the Taliban at Doha. He additionally mentioned the state of affairs with Kazakhstan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and regional connectivity with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen, the EAM wrote in separate tweets.

Also learn | India involved at route of occasions in Afghanistan, says Jaishankar

During the decision on Mr. Ghani, Afghan officers are understood to have additionally briefed Mr. Jaishankar on the parallel effort geared toward reviving the intra-Afghan talks with the Taliban, with a delegation headed by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah travelling to Doha subsequent week and likewise a convention in Islamabad from July 17-19 the place a number of Afghan leaders together with former President Hamid Karzai and Afghan particular envoy for Pakistan Mohammed Daudzai are anticipated to attend.

Indian officers stated no assembly is scheduled or anticipated with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, or Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, nonetheless, who’re additionally in Tashkent on an official bilateral go to to signal a transit commerce settlement with President Shovkat Mirziyoyev, which might give Uzbekistan merchants entry to Karachi and Gwadar ports. Mr. Khan will deal with the inaugural session of the convention “Central and South Asia 2021” together with Mr. Ghani on Friday.

Also learn | Indian delegation met Taliban in Doha, says Qatari official

Addressing a enterprise convention in Tashkent, Mr. Khan pitched for extra unified area, on the strains of the European Union, the place he stated the “standard of living” had improved resulting from intra-regional commerce.

However, Mr. Qureshi struck a sharper notice right here, when requested about prospects for a gathering, saying the street to India-Pakistan talks “passes from Srinagar”, dismissing any dialogue till India modifications its ‘attitude’ on the Jammu Kashmir subject, based on an announcement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.