Taliban minister discusses regional ties with diplomats of 11 countries
- Taliban’s Foreign minister held a meeting of diplomats from 11 neighbouring and regional countries, including India
- He proposed establishing a “region-centric narrative.
Objective of meeting
- It aimed at developing regional cooperation for a positive and constructive engagement between Afghanistan and regional countries.”
- This is the first publicised meeting between the Taliban foreign minister and diplomats from India based in Kabul.
- Since June 2022, India has stationed a technical team, with the stated objective of delivering humanitarian aid and support to Afghanistan.
- regional cooperation could be focused on exploring region-centric and engagement pathways based on common regional benefits
- creating a region-centric narrative for positive and constructive engagement with the Afghan government to tackle existing and potential threats in the region;
History of India-Afghanistan Relations
- The contact between the people of modern-day India and Afghanistan has existed since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- A number of invaders invaded the northern regions of India between the 10th century to the mid 18th century by a number of invaders
- Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was one of the prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement and active supporters of the Indian National Congress.
- Even though the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) became the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan
- Unanimous Pashtun support for the Indian freedom struggle led to great sympathy in India for the cause of Pashtun autonomy and freedom.
- The Indian government continued to support Pashtun leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in lobbying for greater Pashtun freedom in the NWFP.
Prelims Takeaway
- North-West Frontier Province
- Taliban