Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, convened by India over Afghanistan situation, to be held tomorrow in New Delhi
New Delhi, November 09
Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, which is being convened by India over the Afghanistan situation, will be held in New Delhi tomorrow. The Dialogue will be held at the level of National Security Advisers or Secretaries of Security Councils and will be chaired by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The Dialogue will witness the participation of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. India had also invited Pakistan and China for the meeting. However, both countries are not participating. China has said, it is unable to attend the meeting due to scheduling issues, but is open for dialogue with India on Afghanistan multilaterally and bilaterally.
This is the first time all Central Asian countries, not just Afghanistan’s immediate land neighbors, are participating in this format. The enthusiastic response is recognition of the importance attached to India’s role to promote peace and security in Afghanistan.
Sources said, there will be discussions over the security situation in Afghanistan, radicalization, extremism, drug production, and trafficking. Threats emanating from military weapons left behind in Afghanistan will also be part of the discussion. The meeting will also deliberate on issues of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
AIR correspondent reports, The high-level Dialogue will review the security situation in the region arising from recent developments in Afghanistan. It will deliberate upon measures to address the relevant security challenges and to support the people of Afghanistan in promoting peace, security, and stability. Two earlier meetings in this format were hosted by Iran in 2018 and 2019. The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the pandemic. India has traditionally enjoyed close and friendly ties with the people of Afghanistan and has called for a unified international response to address the security and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan. The Dialogue is a step in that direction