India voices concern at US troop exit from Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): India has once again voiced its deep concern at US President Joe Biden’s plan to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan.

Biden’s decision on the troop exit was driven by political expediency, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar was quoted as saying by The Hindustan Times on Thursday.

Jaishankar, currently on a visit to Washington, expressed his unease on Wednesday ahead of meetings with top Biden administration officials.

In a virtual discussion with ex-US national security adviser HR McMaster, he underlined the imperative of preserving the gains Afghanistan has made over the past two decades.

The external affairs minister, in conversations with his counterparts, especially European, said: “I think people do worry about what would happen if things go badly.”

He opposed the US withdrawal before the key issue of who would be in charge of Afghanistan was settled. Later on, he left for Washington DC for the second leg of his five-day visit.

Irrespective of the party in power in Kabul, India has long insisted on some sort of a US military presence in Afghanistan to keep terrorists at bay in South Asia.

Jaishankar is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and several lawmakers.

PAN Monitor/mud