First Meeting Of India-Central Asia Working Group Emphasises Not Using Afghanistan For Planning Terror Acts

The JWG stressed the importance of the formation of an inclusive political structure that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures equal rights for women, girls, and members of minority groups.

The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Afghanistan was held in Delhi on Tuesday where the members of the JWG exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan, including the political, security, and humanitarian situation, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The meeting was attended by Special Envoys and senior officials from India and five Central Asian countries, as well as representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP).

The JWG stressed the importance of the formation of a truly inclusive and representative political structure that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures equal rights for women, girls, and members of minority groups, according to news agency ANI. Access to education for Afghans, especially girls and women, was central to the deliberations. In December of last year, India and nations slammed the Taliban for prohibiting women in Afghanistan from receiving university education. India is yet ti recognise the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

This Joint Working Group discussed also talked about the regional threats of terrorism, extremism, radicalisation of youths, and drug trafficking in India and Central Asia and deliberated on the possibilities of coordinated efforts to counter these threats, said the MEA.

The JWG stressed that Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training, planning, or financing any terrorist act and that no terrorist organisation, including those designated by Resolution 1267 of the United Nations Security Council should be provided sanctuary or allowed to use the territory of Afghanistan.

India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul in June last year by deploying a "technical team" at its embassy in Kabul.

INDIA TO SEND AID FOR AFGHANS

India on Tuesday announced at the JWG meet that it will provide 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat as assistance to Afghanistan through the UN World Food Programme, in partnership with Iran's Chabahar Port, reported news agency UNI.

India had previously provided 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat assistance to Afghanistan last year, which was sent via road through Pakistan, in association with the UNWFP. 

The country representative of the UNWFP in Afghanistan briefed the participants on the India-UNWFP partnership to deliver foodgrain assistance to Afghan people and made a presentation on the current humanitarian situation, including the aid requirements for the year ahead. The country representative of the UNODC in Afghanistan highlighted the partnership of India and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in fighting the menace of narcotics in Afghanistan and thanked India for providing humanitarian aid for the Afghan population.

India also offered capacity-building training courses for the relevant stakeholders and partner agencies of UNODC and the relevant officials and stakeholders of Central Asian Republics in the field of countering illegal drug trafficking.