India will never abandon Afghanistan: NSA Doval at Moscow meet

The NSA underlined that terrorism has become a major threat in the region and that dealing with terror outfits like Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed requires intensified intelligence and security cooperation between respective countries and their agencies.

National security advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday said that India will never abandon people of Afghanistan in their time of need as he underlined India's focus on food security and medical supplies. He also noted India's historical and special relationship with Afghanistan, which is passing through a difficult phase, and said the well being of the people of Afghanistan is India's “foremost priority”.

India NSA Ajit Doval (L) at multilateral meeting on Afghanistan.

“This will continue to guide our approach,” he said at the 5th Regional Dialogue on Afghanistan by top security officials.

India has so far delivered 40,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 60 tons of medicines, 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines, winter clothing and 28 tons of disaster relief supplies. In the past two years, India has also granted fresh scholarships to 2,260 Afghan students, including 300 Afghan girls.

Doval stressed that an inclusive and representative dispensation is in the larger interest of Afghan society.

The NSA underlined that terrorism has become a major threat in the region and called for intensified intelligence and security cooperation between respective countries in dealing with terror outfits like Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. He also pointed to India reaffirming the importance of the UN Security Council resolution that calls for denying sanctuary to terror outfits, including those designated by UNSCR 1267, in the region.

He signed off by saying India will continue to be an important stakeholder in Afghanistan.

“We always stood by the people of Afghanistan and will always support collective efforts to help Afghan people build a prosperous and vibrant nation once again,” he said.

The multilateral meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils and National Security Advisors was held in Moscow. Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were represented at the meeting where various issues related to Afghanistan were discussed, including the security situation and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan.