US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of State S Jaishankar discussed the Afghan crisis (File)
Washington:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of State S Jaishankar discussed the chaotic situation in Afghanistan for the second time this week and agreed to continue their close coordination on the issue.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday. Their sudden takeover, which comes as the US pulls out of the country after a 20-year war, has led to chaos at the Kabul airport, from which America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of their citizens and allies.
India rushed back home Tuesday to its ambassador Rudrendra Tandon and staff from the embassy in Kabul in a military transport plane.
Minister Blinken spoke by phone with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned Price said.
“Secretary Blinken and Secretary Jaishankar have discussed Afghanistan and agreed to continue coordination,” Price said while reading the appeal.
“Productive conversation with @DrSJaishankar today (Thursday) about Afghanistan. We have agreed to continue our close coordination,” Secretary Blinken tweeted after the conversation.
Productive calling with @DrSJaishankar today on Afghanistan. We have agreed to continue our close coordination.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 20, 2021
Mr Blinken and Mr Jaishankar last spoke on Monday and discussed the situation in the conflict-torn country. During their appeal, Mr. Jaishankar stressed “the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul.”
The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport.
On Thursday, Mr Jaishankar said India is working with international partners, mainly the US, to bring stranded Indian nationals back home from Afghanistan.
Mr Jaishankar said this while addressing reporters at the UN Security Council’s eviction, after chairing the Security Council briefing on the “threats to international peace and security posed by acts of terrorism” held under the current chairmanship of the UN Security Council. Council of India.
In response to a question, on the issue of “where do we go from now on” with the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, he said, “the immediate issue we are looking at is basically the repatriation of our nationals. In India’s case, nationals of India, other countries have their concerns”.
“We are working with international partners in this regard, mainly the US, because they control the (Kabul) airport,” said Jaishankar.
The government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is open for commercial operations, the foreign ministry said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
