New Delhi, Delhi, India

The BRICS Delhi declaration on Thursday expressed "concern" over the latest developments in Afghanistan and caution that the country's territory might be used by terrorist as sanctuary.

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Delhi Declaration was issued after the 13th BRICS summit, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called for "settling the situation by peaceful means" and "refraining from violence" when it comes the ongoing crisis in the country.

This summit saw participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Also read | Taliban 2.0? Changed visas, painted walls, new airport names hint at changed Afghanistan

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The joint statement stressed on the "need to contribute to fostering an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue" so as to ensure "stability, civil peace, law and order in the country." While condemning in the "strongest terms" the terrorist attacks near the Hamid Karzai Kabul International Airport, the declaration underscored the "priority of fighting terrorism, including preventing attempts by terrorist organizations to use Afghan territory as terrorist sanctuary" and to "carry out attacks against other countries, as well as drug trade within Afghanistan."

India has been concerned about Pakistan-based international terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) using Afghan territory. The same was conveyed by India's NSA Ajit Doval to Russia's Secretary of the Security Council General Nikolay Patrushev, earlier this week.

China has its own concerns about Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an Uyghur Islamic extremist organisation using Afghan territory to destabilise Xinjiang further.

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Also read | Deeply disappointed by lack of inclusion: Australian Envoy Barry O'Farrell on Taliban govt

The Declaration also saw emphasis on the "need to address the humanitarian situation and to uphold human rights, including those of women, children and minorities."

Since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, worry is that the group will not respect the rights of women and other ethnic minorities. With the announcement of so called "acting" government by Taliban, which has no representation from women and presence of Haqqani network, the fears have only confirmed the true intent of the extremist group which has deep linkages with Pakistan.

During the talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazil President Bolsonaro backed India's line on Afghanistan, especially when it comes to the issue of terrorism.

Sanjay Bhattacharyya, India's G20 Sherpa, after the summit, said, "There is a very strong sense of consensus which is supportive of our perspective on the developments in Afghanistan and in the region."

Afghanistan's geographic proximity with three BRICS countries — India, China and Russia — makes the issue an important part of regional discussion. Next week will see the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO summit) which will be hosted by Tajikistan, and Afghanistan yet again will dominate the focus. The three BRICS countries are also part of the eight-member SCO grouping.