- Monday, February 24, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday (18) said India is “very carefully” following the developments in Afghanistan which has been retaken by Taliban and New Delhi’s focus is on ensuring the security and safe return of Indian nationals who are still stranded in the violence-hit nation.
Addressing reporters at the United Nations Security Council stakeout after presiding over an open debate on peacekeeping under India’s current presidency at the council, Jaishankar said “that (situation in Afghanistan) is really what has been very much the focus of my own engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary General and other colleagues who are here as well as the US Secretary of State”.
Responding to question from the reporters, the Indian diplomat said, “At the moment we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. I think our focus is on ensuring the security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there.”
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Jaishankar has spoken on the situation in Afghanistan in various bilateral meetings that he attended in New York, including with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He also spoke with US secretary of state Antony Blinken and French minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on the matter. Jaishankar also had a talk with British foreign secretary Dominic Raab who later said in a tweet that the UK and India will work together to tackle the challenges in Afghanistan.
The Indian minister reached New York on Monday (16) as the security council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over 10 days as the powerful body met under the presidency of India for the month of August.
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Responding to another question on India’s investments in Afghanistan over the last two decades and whether New Delhi will engage in Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control, Jaishankar said, “You used the word investment. I mean, for us, it reflected what was a historical relationship with the Afghan people.”
“I think that relationship with the Afghan people obviously continues and that will guide our approach to Afghanistan in the coming days. At this time, as I said, these are early days. Our focus right now is on ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals who are there,” Jaishankar added.
Did India have a communication with the Taliban in recent days? To that, the Indian external affairs minister said, “At this point of time, we are looking at what is the evolving situation in Kabul.”
“Obviously, the Taliban and its representatives have come to Kabul so I think we need to take it on from there,” he added.
