India to Attend Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan

Afghan Foreign Minister discussed a range of issues, including bilateral relations and strengthening regional and international consensus on Afghan peace talks with his Indian counterpart during his official visit to India.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar met Monday evening with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations, the strengthening of regional and international consensus on the Afghan peace talks, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Atmar presented messages of Afghan President to the leadership of the friendly country of India, thanking and appreciating India’s approximately $ 3 billion in economic and development assistance to Afghanistan over the past two decades.
“Speaking about India’s recent commitments and cooperation, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of the Shatoot Dam, the delivery of 500,000 doses of Corona Vaccine, and the sending of 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, the Indian Minister of External Affairs said that India, as a friend and partner of Afghanistan, would continue to support the reconstruction and developmental projects for the welfare and prosperity of Afghanistan people,” the statement read.

The two sides also discussed regional connectivity projects, including the development of railways from Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan, the expansion of the Chabahar port, and enhancing trade between the two countries, considering these projects important for strengthening economic cooperation and regional stability.

In connection with the peace process, the two sides reviewed the Troika peace meeting in Moscow and assessed the final declaration of the meeting as positive for strengthening and advancing the peace process.
“India stated its readiness to participate in regional conferences on peace and development in Afghanistan, including the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process in Tajikistan and Peace Talks in Turkey, and stressed that New Delhi strongly supported the peace process and the achievements of the Afghan people over the last two decades,” the statement added.

Haneef Atmar emphasized India’s role in the Afghan peace process and called for its enhanced role in strengthening regional and international consensus for the success of peace talks.
The Indian minister of external affairs expressed readiness to help strengthen the regional and international consensus for peace in Afghanistan, saying that national consensus and unity within Afghanistan would further strengthen and contribute to the regional and international consensus.