PM Modi to participate in G20 leaders’ summit on Afghanistan
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually participate in a G-20 leaders’ summit on Afghanistan on Tuesday that is expected to deliberate extensively on the overall situation in the war-torn country after its takeover by the Taliban.
Announcing Prime Minister Modi’s participation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the agenda of the summit will include a discussion on response to humanitarian needs, security and the fight against terrorism and human rights in Afghanistan.
“At the invitation of the Italian Presidency of the G-20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the upcoming G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on Afghanistan on October 12 in virtual format,” it said.
The summit is being convened by Italy, the current chair of the G20 that comprises 20 of the world’s major economies.
“The agenda of the meeting will include a discussion on response to humanitarian needs and access to basic services and livelihood; security and the fight against terrorism; and mobility, migration and human rights,” the MEA said.
Modi had earlier participated in the SCO CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) outreach summit on Afghanistan last month.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the meeting of G20 foreign ministers on Afghanistan on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York recently.
The MEA said that G20 is an important platform to help build international consensus and facilitate a coordinated approach between multilateral organisations, including the UN and its agencies, and global and regional actors to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, India said that it was closely following the developments in Afghanistan and underscored the importance of the Taliban regime meeting the expectations of the international community as elaborated in a UN Security Council resolution.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made remarks during a joint press appearance with his Kyrgyz counterpart Ruslan Kazakbaev after a “constructive” meeting with him here.
Jaishankar said that discussion on developments in Afghanistan and its implications for the peace and security of the region occupied some time in his talks with Kazakbaev.
“We are closely following the developments in Afghanistan. It concerns all of us. Any instability in Afghanistan will have an impact in the region. There are expectations of the international community from the current regime in Afghanistan, which are adequately elaborated in the UNSCR 2593,” he said.
The UNSC resolution 2593 unequivocally demands that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts; and specifically refers to terrorist individuals proscribed by the UN Security Council, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad
“India and Kyrgyz Republic have a shared approach to developments in Afghanistan,” he said in a tweet.
The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in mid-August, ousting the previous elected government which was backed by the West. The Taliban, ousted from power by the US shortly after the 9/11 attacks, now control nearly all of the country.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for ensuring that no country tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests.”
Addressing the 76th UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Modi had also said that it is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not used to spread, terrorism, and for terrorist attacks.
Jaishankar arrived here on Sunday as part of his four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties with the three Central Asian countries.
Press Trust of India
