India ‘very carefully’ following developments in Afghanistan: S Jaishankar
With the Taliban now in management in Kabul, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has mentioned that New Delhi is “very carefully” following the developments in Afghanistan and India’s focus is on making certain the safety and secure return of Indian nationals nonetheless in the war-torn nation. Jaishankar, addressing reporters on the UN Security Council stakeout after chairing an open-debate on peacekeeping underneath India’s present UNSC Presidency, mentioned “that (situation in Afghanistan) is really what has been very much the focus of my own engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary General and other colleagues who are here as well as the US Secretary of State.”
“At the moment we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. I think our focus is on ensuring the security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there,” he mentioned in response to a query by PTI on Wednesday.
Jaishankar has mentioned the scenario in Afghanistan in his bilateral conferences right here, together with with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He arrived in New York on Monday because the UN Security Council held an emergency assembly on the scenario in Afghanistan, the second time in simply over the ten days that the highly effective UN physique met underneath India’s Presidency for the month of August to debate the scenario in the war-torn nation.
In response to a different query on India’s investments in Afghanistan over the past twenty years and whether or not New Delhi might be engaged in Afghanistan now that the Taliban is in management, he mentioned: “You used the word investment. I mean, for us, it reflected what was a historical relationship with the Afghan people. I think that relationship with the Afghan people obviously continues and that will guide our approach to Afghanistan in the coming days. At this time, as I said, these are early days. Our focus right now is on ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals who are there.”
Asked whether or not India has had any communication with the Taliban in current days, Jaishankar mentioned, “At this point of time, we are looking at what is the evolving situation in Kabul.” “Obviously, the Taliban and its representatives have come to Kabul so I think we need to take it on from there,” he mentioned with out immediately responding to the query.
Following his assembly with Guterres in the UN headquarters on Tuesday, Jaishankar had tweeted “Good to meet UN Secretary General @antonioguterres. Our discussions focused on Afghanistan, following upon the Security Council meeting yesterday.”
He additionally met Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets and as “UNSC members, discussed our working together on maritime and cyber security and other global issues. Exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan. Look forward to her presence at the Council meeting tomorrow (Thursday).”
Jaishankar additionally mentioned the “newest developments” in Afghanistan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and “underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul. Deeply appreciate the American efforts underway in this regard.” State Department spokesperson Ned Price mentioned that Blinken spoke with Jaishankar “about Afghanistan and the developing situation there.”
Jaishankar mentioned he additionally mentioned the evolving scenario in Afghanistan with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. “We will continue to coordinate in the UN Security Council. Thank him for evacuating 21 Indian nationals from Kabul to Paris,” he added.
India on Tuesday rushed again dwelling its ambassador Rudrendra Tandon and workers from the embassy in Kabul in a army transport plane following escalating stress, worry and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after the Taliban insurgents seized the Afghan capital on Sunday. The C-17 Globemaster plane of the Indian Air Force carrying round 150 individuals, together with diplomats, officers, safety personnel and a few stranded Indians, landed on the Hindon airbase close to the nationwide capital at round 5 PM after a quick halt at Jamnagar in Gujarat, in the wake of escalating stress, worry and uncertainty gripping the Afghan capital after its take over by the Taliban two days again.
It was the second evacuation flight as one other C-17 plane introduced again round 40 individuals from the Hamid Karzai International (HKI) Airport in Kabul on Monday as a part of India’s emergency evacuation mission that was carried out following coordination with related authorities together with US officers dealing with safety on the airport in the Afghan capital.
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