Washington:
Influential lawmakers from the G-7 countries have urged India to be invited to attend the bloc’s meetings that aim to develop a common and united front for global security and regional stability in the wake of the Taliban attack. takes control of Afghanistan.
US Senator Bob Menendez, who also chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his colleagues from Italy, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the European Parliament also said in a joint statement that the African Union should be invited to attend individual meetings. G-7 meetings as appropriate.
“The withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan should not be misinterpreted by the global community as weakening the determination of G7 governments to take all necessary measures to fight cross-border terrorism, support regional cooperation or promote democratic values. ,” Menendez and his colleagues from the G-7 countries said in the joint statement.
“Now that terrorism is on the rise, we would like India to be invited to attend this G-7 meeting. As other terror groups begin to gather in the Horn of Africa and revive movements elsewhere, we are believe that the African Union should be invited to attend individual G-7 meetings if necessary,” the legislators said.
“This would foster a regional shift for governments and ensure that Afghanistan’s spillovers, which could destabilize neighboring countries, are constantly monitored by those closest to likely areas of threat,” they said.
Terror exports, whether in South Asia, the Middle East, East Africa or any other part of the world, must be dealt with swiftly and decisively,” the statement said.
The G-7 is an intergovernmental political grouping of seven countries, comprising the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. US President Joe Biden spoke Tuesday at an emergency meeting of the G-7 and other world leaders about the withdrawal of US troops on August 31.
In addition to Menendez, the joint statement was issued by David McAllister, MEP, President, European Parliament; Jean-Louis Bourlanges, President of the French National Assembly; dr. Norbert Rottgen MdB, President, German Bundestag; Piero Fassino, Member of Parliament, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies; ABE Toshiko, Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives; and Tom Tugendhat, Member of Parliament, Speaker of the UK Parliament. Canada’s parliament to be dissolved before the upcoming elections.
Lawmakers demanded that no member of the international community of states unilaterally recognize the Taliban regime. There must be a coordinated process, ideally through a United Nations Security Council resolution, to ensure that Taliban pledges are considered binding.
“The main criteria for recognition should include, but are not limited to: rejection of all cross-border terrorism, including Al-Qaeda and related groups; equal rights for girls and women; protection of ethnic and religious minorities; commitment to democratic elections and the ending all narcotics-related activities,” the statement said.
“It is the actions that will count. A monitoring and enforcement mechanism should be part of any framework agreed with the Taliban to ensure that their commitments are fulfilled,” it said.
There is little indication from his past or present behavior that the Taliban are committed to any of these principles, so the G-7 countries should be prepared to isolate the Taliban and impose firm sanctions if violations reach an agreed threshold, the government said. legislators.
They said that in order to conduct an orderly evacuation of the most vulnerable in Afghanistan, the G-7 governments must avoid arbitrary dates for ending military support for the evacuation or imposing artificial limits on the number of evacuees.
Instead, these decisions should be guided by the steps necessary for an orderly process with the primary goal of protecting the most vulnerable and helping those most in need.
“In addition to evacuation, the G-7 governments should call on the UN to coordinate the international community in responding to the likely refugee and humanitarian crisis. Afghans will need emergency aid both inside and outside Afghanistan, and the role of the World Food Program and the UNHCR will be essential to support people in critical need,” the lawmakers said.
