PM Modi's First In-Person Meet With US Prez Joe Biden Today, Afghan Crisis Likely On Agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Friday.

(Images: PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Friday, and a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule and Pakistan's alleged role in terrorism is likely to be on the agenda.

India will stress that the Taliban have gone against what was agreed upon during Doha talks, and what was expected after the UN Security Council's Resolution 2593, and legitimising such a power would not be good for the world in general, it is learnt.

The UNSCR 2593, adopted during India’s presidency of the council last month, demands that the Afghan soil should not be used in any way for terrorism, and also seeks an inclusive and negotiated settlement to the country's crisis.

Highly placed sources in the Modi government said it is confirmed that Modi and Biden will discuss the Afghanistan situation and the current issues in South Asia. India will also put across the point that the Taliban have so far not lived up to the expectations set by the UNSCR 2593.

The sources said India will stress the fact that the way Afghanistan is being controlled from "outside" does not assure the international community of any sign of normacly in the country.

India has already said that the world community’s Afghanistan approach should be in line with the UNSCR 2593.

Addressing a virtual symposium on the Afghanistan situation, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said last week the UNSC resolution recognises the “need to uphold human rights, including of women and minorities, and to encourage all parties for an inclusive, negotiated political settlement”.

Why India Thinks Taliban Should Not Get Recognition 

Official sources told ABP News that the ongoing rift between different Taliban factions and the increasing clout of a specific group cannot be overlooked. India will stress that the preference the Sirajuddin Haqqani faction is getting, and Pakistan's "control" over them are a matter of concern.

It may be mentioned that the Imran Khan government in Pakistan has strongly supported the return of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, and is speaking out loud in favour of the Taliban getting recognition at the international level.  

Taliban leaders and Pakistan have been mounting press on the international community, especially the US and other western nations, to not only continue sending financial aid but also increase it.

The Taliban leaders also want access to the erstwhile Afghanistan government's international bank accounts.

But India and many other countries fear that the Taliban could use the foreign aid only to increase its powers and also help the terror outfits on Afghanistan soil. 

India, according to the sources, is deeply suspicious of the Taliban’s long-standing links with the networks of terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba. India has adopted a wait-and-watch policy and has so far given no indication regarding any form of recognition to the Taliban's interim setup following the takeover on August 15.   

At Modi's meeting with Biden on Friday, India's emphasis would be to ensure the Taliban is made accountable to the UNSCR 2593 recommendations.

The sources said this should be the test for the Taliban to give them recognition because their 'government' as of now is neither inclusive nor has come to power following a democratic process.