Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism: Doval, NSAs of 7 nations adopt declaration

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 10, 2021: Afghan territory must not be used for terror activities, a joint declaration adopted by eight countries asserted on Wednesday. The declaration was a result of the Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held in New Delhi.

 

Hosted by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, the Dialogue witnessed participation from Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. New Delhi had also invited China and Pakistan to join the talks, but the two countries chose not to accept the invitation.

In addition to specifying that the situation in Afghanistan could impact regional security, the declaration goes on to call for an open and inclusive government in Kabul.

The declaration clearly specifies that Afghan territory must not be used for "sheltering, training, planning or financing" terrorist activities. It also condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul.

Without naming Pakistan, the declaration goes further to state that all eight countries support non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

The eight countries also expressed "deep concern" over the suffering of the Afghan people following the Taliban takeover in August of this year.

In addition, the declaration calls for "collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking" in the region.

India, Iran, Russia and the five Central Asian countries also stressed the need to form an "open and truly inclusive government that represents the will" of all of the Afghan people.

Courtesy:India Today