Please talk us through the peace talks…

We’ve been engaging with India in this regard. We truly believe that peace in Afghanistan will impact the entire region. India too is promoting the ideals that we believe in. A secure Afghanistan is what we all want. Fortunately both Governments have been on the same page. Foreign Minister H.E. Jaishankar Ji’s speech through video conferencing at the inaugural ceremony of the peace talks between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar was quite promising on the subject and showed India’s commitment to Afghanistan. Joint Secretary J.P. Singh’s physical presence in Doha reiterated that commitment. For us, building up the regional consensus is important. Our Foreign Minister HE Mohammad Hanif Atmar has been speaking to his counterparts in India and in the region on the same subject too, and he has been able to establish a regional consensus. Likewise, it is important for us to have the support of India for the End-State that’s acceptable for us and everyone else. Moreover, it is also very important for us to preserve all the gains made and strides taken as we are negotiating.

Recently Afghanistan’s chief peace envoy Dr Abdullah Abdullah who is the head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation gave an interview to the Associated Press where he said that India wishes for a peaceful Afghanistan, where there is peace within the country, and a democratic Afghanistan that does not harbor terrorist groups. Your comments…

Only a week ago (October 6-10, 2020) H.E. Dr Abdullah Abdullah in his capacity as the head of the HCNR was in Delhi. His visit and talks with senior officials followed talks between our two Governments. He arrived with a clear message for our Indian friends, that enduring peace in Afghanistan means peace in the region, and by extension in the world. His trip was part of a regional tour meant to bring everyone on the same page, and build consensus on the peace process. His trip was also meant to revisit our common values and reiterate that terrorism remains our common enemy. Afghanistan has paid a heavy price through war. We’ve made sacrifices every single day. If we can make peace and the Taliban integrates into the mainstream by accepting the deal then we can all join hands to fight international terrorism that is active in Afghanistan. Then we’ll be able to control border insurgency. There will be common security goals that we can apply. For the international community, our message has been very clear—you’ve been contributing to Afghanistan in blood and treasure. A lot of foreign soldiers have been sacrificing their lives to bring peace to Afghanistan. If peace comes, that burden will be lifted. The whole region will be lifted in terms of trade, connectivity, transit. Afghanistan is located geographically such that it connects Central Asia to South Asia.