When asked how India is dealing with the Taliban leadership, S Jaishankar said it is still “early”. (File)
New Delhi:
India is monitoring events in Afghanistan “very carefully” and the focus is on ensuring the safety and safe return of Indian nationals still in the war-torn country, Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar to reporters in New York on Wednesday. Asked about how India sees and handles the Taliban leadership, he said it is still “early days”, without directly commenting on whether or not India was in contact with the Taliban.
“Right now we are looking at the evolving situation in Kabul… now that the Taliban and its representatives have come to Kabul and I think we should take it from there,” he added when asked if India has any communications had. with the Taliban in recent days.
Asked whether India will continue its investment and involvement in Afghanistan, the minister said the “historic relationship with the Afghan people” continues. “
That will guide our approach in the coming days. I think right now these are the first days and our focus on the safety and security of the Indian citizens who are there,” he added.
Addressing reporters after a UN Security Council meeting, Dr. Jaishankar said the situation in Afghanistan “has actually been the focus of my own engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary-General and other colleagues who be here, as well as the United States Secretary of State.”
“Right now, like everyone else, we are following developments in Afghanistan very closely. I think our focus is on ensuring security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there,” he said.
India has assured that it will repatriate Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said the country will stand by its friends and allies in the war-torn country, which many are desperate to leave.
India on Tuesday evacuated the last of the embassy personnel in Kabul, including the ambassador and Indo-Tibetan border police personnel responsible for security. The withdrawal took place during a curfew imposed by the Taliban, who took over Kabul on Sunday.
dr. Jaishankar had arrived in New York on Monday for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. India – a non-permanent member of the Security Council – will take up its presidency this month.
This was the second time in 10 days that the UN body met to discuss the situation in the war-torn country.
