New Delhi: Underlining the need to ensure that Afghan territory does not become a source of radicalization and terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized on the need to enhance the joint fight against such nexus as well as the smuggling of drugs and arms in the region.
Addressing the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan via video conferencing, Modi conveyed support for the important role of the United Nations in Afghanistan and called for renewed support of the G20 for the message contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2593 on Afghanistan which was adopted on August 30, 2021. The said resolution, among other things, demands that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts, and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including those individuals and entities designated pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), and notes the
Taliban’s relevant commitments.
The Indian Prime Minister called on the international community to forge a unified international response without which, he said, it would be difficult to bring about the desired change in Afghanistan’s situation. He called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan, which includes women and minorities, in order to preserve the socio-economic gains of the last 20 years and to restrict the spread of radical ideology.
Modi recalled that over 500 development projects have been implemented by India in Afghanistan and noted that the Afghan people have a great feeling of friendship for India. He conveyed that every Indian feels the pain of Afghan people facing hunger and malnutrition and emphasized the need for the international community to ensure that Afghanistan has immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance..
Recounting the centuries old people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan, the Prime Minister mentioned that over the last two decades, India has contributed to promoting socio-economic development and capacity building of youth and women in Afghanistan.
The Meeting was convened by Italy, which currently holds the G20 Presidency, and chaired by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Issues under consideration at the meeting related to the humanitarian situation; concerns relating to terrorism; and human rights in Afghanistan.
– global bihari bureau
