Afghanistan lauds India's role in peace process

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar has laudedIndia's "constructiverole"in"strengthening regional consensus on theAfghanpeaceprocess".

TheAfghanminister andIndian External Affairs Minister DrS Jaishankar held anin-person bilateralinDushanbe, Tajikistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers' meet.

"Minister Atmar underscored the constructiveroleofIndiain...the preservation of the achievements of the last two decades", anAfghan foreign ministry statement said. The country has seen women's rights, minority rights being granted, andincreased liberty as compared to the Taliban era of the 1990s, which many countries have called to be preserved.

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The meet comes amidincreased violenceinthe country by the Taliban as American forces leave after twodecades. While many districts have falleninto the hands of the Taliban, theAfghanforces are also giving tough resistance.

Referring to the escalation of the Taliban attacksin"collusion with foreign fighters and regional andinternational terrorist networks against civilians and theAfghandefense forces", Atmar said, "overcoming this common threat was of vital importance to regional security."

During the meet, many issues were discussed, such asIndia's cooperation withAfghanistaninvarious fields,including the joint fight against terrorism. TheAfghanforeign minister also briefed aboutAfghanPresident Ghani's visit to Washington DC.

TheAfghanforeign minister also had a meeting with Pakistani FM SM Qureshi and the contrast was evident with theAfghanside asking Islamabad to cut funding for the Taliban.

Terming the "presence of foreign fighters and regional andinternational terrorist networks alongside the Taliban a major threat to the region",AfghanFM emphasised "practical cooperation between regional countries, particularly Pakistaninclosing shelters and ceasing funding sources of the Taliban."

Pakistan has been openly supporting the Taliban and its leaders have been meeting their cadresinthe country. Quetta and Peshawar shuras are well-knownAfghanTaliban decision-making bodies named after Pakistani cities.

TheAfghanFM also asked Pakistani FM to "encourage" the group to "resume meaningful talks and find a political solution to the success of theAfghanpeaceprocess". Islamabad'sinfluence over the Taliban is well known, something it has been flaunting as well with videos of Taliban delegation hugging the Pakistani foreign minister.