Delhi Regional Security Dialogue On Afghanistan:
In the coming days, India will be hosting the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’.
- The meeting will be held at the level of National Security Advisors (NSAs) and will be chaired by India’s NSA Ajit Doval.
About the Meeting:
- Invited Participants: India’s top security establishment, the National Security Council Secretariat, has taken the lead in organising the in-person meeting.
- Invitations were sent to Afghanistan’s neighbours such as Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and other key players including Russia, and China.
- After the withdrawal of US forces and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, India is concerned about security in the region.
- Objective: In this context, India has taken this initiative to organise a conference of regional stakeholders and important powers on the country’s current situation and future outlook.
- This meeting could be India’s attempt to secure for itself a seat at the table to decide the future course of action on Afghanistan.
- The meeting also reflects the need to actively engage with the world to protect India’s security interests.
- The Central Asian countries, as well as Russia and Iran, have confirmed participation.
- The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India’s role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan.
- Pakistan’s National Security Advisor has held that he would not attend the meeting.
- China has also decided to skip a regional security meeting due to scheduling difficulties, but is open to maintaining discussions with India through bilateral channels.
- India is of the view that the denial by Pakistan to attend this meeting reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate.
- India is not ready to directly deal with the new Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan.
- India reiterates that Afghanistan should:
- Not allow safe havens for terror on its soil.
- The administration should be inclusive.
- The rights of minorities, women, and children must be protected.
- The Afghanistan peace process should be led, owned and controlled by the Afghan people.
