West, India FS talk shared interest in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West during his visit to New Delhi met with India’s foreign secretary Harsh V. Shringla and national security advisor Ajit Doval, according to a media report on Wednesday.

In a tweet, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote: “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla met US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West @US4AfghanPeace and exchanged views on recent developments and issues of common interest in Afghanistan.”

While the discussions focused on the current developments in Afghanistan, sources said the topics included the recently held Regional Security Dialogue of NSAs on Afghanistan in New Delhi, movement of people in and out of Afghanistan, coordinating global efforts on humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, regional security issues, and other bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.

US Special Envoy on his twitter account wrote: “A pleasure to meet with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla, Joint Secretary JP Singh & others in New Delhi today. We will work together with our close partner to address our abundant shared interests in a stable & peaceful Afghanistan.”

India recently held the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, which saw the participation of security chiefs of the five Central Asian nations ( Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), Iran and Russia.

Before arriving in New Delhi, ambassador West visited Islamabad during November 11-13. A press release of the US embassy in Pakistan said: “In meetings of the extended Troika, participants discussed the way forward on Afghanistan. West also held bilateral meetings with Pakistani government officials in which both parties emphasized the importance of pressing the Taliban to uphold its commitments to counterterrorism, the right of free passage for those who wish to depart Afghanistan, and the rights of all Afghan citizens, including minorities and women.”

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