India will never abandon Afghanistan: Doval at Moscow meeting

Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), participated in the 5th Moscow Format Meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday and said India would never abandon Afghanistan.

Security chiefs from India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were invited by Russia to the Moscow Format Meeting to discuss various Afghanistan-related topics, including security and the humanitarian crisis.

Doval said in the meeting “Afghanistan is passing through a difficult phase. India has a historical and special relationship with Afghanistan. The well-being and humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan are India’s foremost priorities. This will continue to guide our approach.”

He added that India has extended its humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan and has so far sent 40,000 tons of wheat, 60 tons of medication, 500,000 Covid vaccinations, winter clothing, and tons of disaster relief.

“India’s technical team is overseeing our humanitarian assistance program. Standing with Aghans, India has granted new scholarships to 2,260 Afghan students, including 300 Afghan girls, during the past two years,” he said.

Doval also stated that “no country should be allowed to use Afghanistan’s soil to export terrorism and radicalization.”

He also emphasized the need for security cooperation of all the regional countries at the conference to deal with the emerging security challenges in the country, such as Daesh and other terror outfits.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was not present at the Moscow security summit.

However, Zabiullah Mujahid, the IEA spokesman, had asked the member countries to allow the IEA envoy to attend the meeting.