India on Wednesday, 10 November, chaired a regional summit to discuss the situation in Taliban-governed Afghanistan.
NSA-level officials from Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkemenistan, and Tajikistan were in attendance at the summit, where it was agreed that "Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning, or financing any terrorist acts".
Opening the conference, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who chaired the summit, said that India has been "keenly watching the developments in Afghanistan".
Addressing the conference, Doval further went on to say that there is a need to have "close consultations" among the regional leaders at this time, and stressed "greater cooperation and coordination" on the issue.
'Afghanistan's Territory Should Not Be Used for Terrorist Acts': Delhi Declaration
"The Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held in Delhi emphasised that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts," the Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan released after the meeting stated.
"The participants condemned in strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalisation to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism."Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan
The participants emphasised 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," the declaration said.
PM Modi Meets Heads of the National Security Councils
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday also met with the Heads of the National Security Councils of seven nations at the summit.
PM Modi emphasised four aspects that countries in the region would need to focus on: Need for inclusive government, zero-tolerance stance about Afghan territory being used by terror groups, strategy to counter trafficking of drugs and arms from Afghanistan, and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
PM Modi also expressed the hope that the Regional Security Dialogue would work to revive central Asia's traditions of moderation and progressive culture, and counter extremist tendencies, news agency ANI reported.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times and NDTV.)
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