Govt led more than “200 hours of non-stop negotiations” to reach a consensus on G20 leaders’ declaration…reports Asian Lite News
India led more than “200 hours of non-stop negotiations” to reach a consensus on Saturday’s G20 leaders’ declaration. The group has struggled to find common ground on several issues recently – including the Ukraine war and climate change. Extensive work by a ‘brilliant’ team however allowed India to avoid a major diplomatic embarrassment.
“The most complex part of the entire G20 was to bring consensus on the geopolitical paragraphs (Russia-Ukraine). This was done over 200 hours of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings and 15 drafts. In this, I was greatly assisted by two brilliant officers – joint secretaries Eenam Gambhir and Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur,” tweeted G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.
India managed to hammer out an unexpected consensus among the G20 countries on the contentious issue through a series of hectic negotiations with emerging economies such as Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia playing a leading role in reaching the breakthrough. According to a PTI report quoting sources these three countries also helped in drafting the text that drew every member nation’s approval.
World media has since dubbed the carefully worded declaration a “coup” for host Prime Minister Narendra Modi though the final compromise statement reflected a stand far softer than those the US and its Western allies have adopted on Russia.
The G20 Summit and its bilateral meetings concluded today in New Delhi.
The New Delhi Declaration shows that our Presidency was able to table ideas, shape global issues, bridge divides and forge consensus. We kept the focus on Global South.
The Delhi Declaration of G20 begins by stating that this is a “defining moment in history” and that G20’s decisions will affect the future of the people and planet. Don’t dismiss this as typical diplomatic hyperbole, for this recognition of the importance of the moment, and the implications for the long-term, is central to understanding India’s historic achievement on Saturday.
In a clear sign of India’s role in ensuring that the interests of both the global South, which constitute the marginalised within the international order, and the poor and vulnerable who constitute the marginalised within both rich and poor countries, is addressed, the text also lays out clear principles and priorities.
The Indian presidency has made it clear that there will be no compromise between fighting poverty and fighting the climate crisis. And themes such as ensuring growth, getting sustainable development goals (SDGs) back on track, battling the climate crisis, preparing for health emergencies, reforming multilateral development banks (MDBs), dealing with the debt crisis, spreading digital public infrastructure (DPI), generating jobs, bridging the gender gap, and giving a voice to the global south dominate the letter and spirit of the document.
The declaration realises that global economy is at a fragile moment, with “balance of risks tilted downside”.
It says G20 members will commit themselves to implementing “well-calibrated monetary, fiscal, financial, and structural policies to promote growth, reduce inequalities and maintain macroeconomic and financial stability”. All countries know that if they wish to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive economic growth, they will have “to stay agile and flexible in their policy responses”.
G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration adopted with the bang of the gavel!
G20 Central banks, the text says, have committed to achieve price stability, ensure that inflation expectations remain well anchored, and “communicate policy stances to help limit negative cross-country spillovers”, while G20 members reaffirm that central bank independence is crucial to maintaining policy credibility. On fiscal policy, in line with the outcome at the meeting of the finance ministers, G20 members have said they will “prioritise temporary and targeted fiscal measures to protect the poor and the most vulnerable, while maintaining medium-term fiscal sustainability”.
The growth story cannot hinge on the state alone, and the Delhi Declaration sees a key role for the private sector and commits to creating “inclusive, sustainable, and resilient global value chains, and support developing countries to move up the value chain”, facilitating investments, promoting the ease of doing business, and recognising the role of startups and MSMEs.
At a time when the multilateral trading regime is in crisis, G20 members have also committed to a “rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core”, terming the trade organisation indispensable. The declaration outlines a set of principles and actions that can make trading system more effective and fairer.
It also recognises the importance of addressing skill gaps, ensuring “decent work” and providing social protection policies. In this regard, once again in recognition of the flow of people from the global south, the text says that “well-integrated and adequately skilled workers benefit origin and destination countries alike”, with G20 countries committing to working towards ensuring “well-managed, regular and skills-based migration pathways”.
A big takeaway from the Indian presidency, which finds reflection in the Delhi Declaration, is the text’s endorsement of G20 Policy Recommendations for Advancing Financial Inclusion and Productivity Gains through DPI. The declaration encourages the “continuous development and responsible use of technological innovations including innovative payment systems, to achieve financial inclusion of the last mile and progress towards reducing the cost of remittances”. And the grouping has endorsed the G20 2023 Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP), “which provides an action oriented and forward-looking roadmap for rapidly accelerating the financial inclusion of individuals and MSMEs, particularly vulnerable and underserved groups in the G20 countries and beyond”. This, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman noted at a press conference, will be a big legacy of the Presidency.
It need not have been all that much of a surprise when the Delhi Declaration put forward by India, and which embodied the concept of a world of common humanity and shared responsibility, was adopted even by China and Russia, writes Prof. Madhav Das Nalapat
Most international observers had thought that a consensus on the Delhi Declaration would elude the G20 Summit. While they appreciated the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam that is at the core of the Modi Presidency, they did not believe it would succeed in sealing the cracks in the global comity of nations caused by geopolitical tensions. The absence of CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping was reinforcing such a view. It was a surprise when instead, the Delhi Declaration put forward by India, and which embodied the concept of a world of a common humanity and a shared responsibility, was adopted even by China and Russia.
It need not have been that much of a surprise. It was clear that from the time he became President of the G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to raise the global trajectory of the group as well as concentrate the attention of its members on (i) problems and solutions related to the Global South, (ii) emphasis on women-led development, (iii) energize efforts at combating the deepening of the climate crisis and (iv) give Africa its due as a full member of the G20. And so it was throughout the eventful year of crises that is 2023.
The effort by India has been to prevent the sidetracking of pressing global issues by steering away from making the 2023 Summit yet another round of verbal pyrotechnics relating to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. PM Modi’s intention was to ensure that a united front, to the extent geopolitical fault lines permitted, got presented against the twin challenges of development of the Global South and reversing the impact of climate change. In such a task, it was seen as helpful were an equitable Black Sea grain export deal that meets the foodgrain export requirements of both Ukraine as well as Russia get agreed upon.
Such a breakthrough would help significantly in reducing prices of food items, which are presently at a level that is causing distress to hundreds of millions located in the poorest parts of the world. Given the success of India in ensuring a consensus within the G20 on the Delhi Declaration, there is in the consensus a good augury that may indicate the possibility of first securing a Ukraine-Russia grain deal and perhaps later, even ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
THE CHINA PROBLEM
An issue of concern is the onerous debt burden imposed on several countries in the Global South , as a consequence of the interest-bearing loans as well as the use of mostly Chinese personnel in overseas projects of the PRC. It remains an anomaly that the PRC continues to grab the bulk of contracts given out for numerous projects by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Neither institution appears to have the faintest desire to ensure that production units in countries other than China, especially those located in the Global South, be nurtured and encouraged so as to ensure future growth and therefore stability in such countries.
A desirable step in mitigating the impact of the debt crisis would be the mandating of a long moratorium on loan repayments by the countries with low per capita incomes, followed by payments spread over the next 25 years in the currencies of the countries concerned. Such a move is particularly needed in the case of Belt & Road projects, all of which are designated for repayment purposes not in RMB yuan but in US dollars, despite each such project originating in China and carried out almost entirely by PRC citizens.
While US President Joe Biden travelled all the way to Delhi in his first visit to India, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping chose to skip a summit that revolves around women-centric development, the inclusion of the African Union in the G20, the concerns of the Global South, and the need for more effective steps by the major powers to ensure a rollback of global warming. His absence is a telling reflection of his lack of concern for such outcomes.
However, this time the PRC did not prevent a consensus. From the time of the replacement of Foreign Minister Qin Gang (who was a Xi loyalist) with Wang Yi (a CCP loyalist), it would appear that the higher rungs of the party that runs the PRC have re-asserted elements of the collective leadership that had been in place after the demise of Chairman Mao in 1976 but which was ended by Xi by 2015. Such a shift in authority from a single leader to a collective could explain the success of the 2023 G20 Summit in forming a consensus on the Delhi Declaration, a coming together that was absent in previous high-level meetings of the G20 during the year, when Xi had unfettered authority.
The emphasis on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the need for unity of the international community in the face of adverse circumstances that has been the mantra of Prime Minister Modi, and this seems to have worked in persuading China not to oppose but to go along with the consensus on the Delhi Declaration. Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, in going along with the consensus, acted in a manner befitting the strong ties that have endured for over six decades between Moscow and Delhi, in contrast to those between Beijing and Moscow for many long years.
INDIA-RUSSIA TIES
The flame of Indo-Russian friendship has been kept burning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi even during 2022-23, despite intense efforts by the UK and Germany in particular to get India to accept the premise that a European crisis is much more important to the international community than a multiplicity of worse crises in less privileged parts of the world. Given that India is the largest country in the Global South and is the champion of that collective, such efforts have been diplomatically countered by pointing out that this is the era of the Indo-Pacific and no longer that of the Atlantic.
Or that the major theatre of the contest between authoritarianism and democracy is no longer Europe but Asia. Or that it is not post-USSR Russia that is the biggest challenge to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and to the victory of democracy over authoritarianism, but another country, this one located not in Europe but in East Asia.
INDIA-U.S. WARMTH
The first engagement of US President Joe Biden on touchdown in Delhi on 8 September was a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the latter’s official residence. The dinner between the Heads of Government of the two biggest democracies illustrates the fact that the two have finally come together not just at the Business to Business or People to People level, but at the Government to Government level. Whether it be in advanced technology or in defence production, a pairing of US and Indian platforms and capabilities would ensure where markets are concerned that alternative options presented by the Sino-Russian alliance are higher in cost and lower in quality.
Given the bottlenecks that have ensued over the past year in the supply of critical defence equipment from the Russian Federation, even hardened “Lutyens Lok” have finally understood that in matters of critical defence-related equipment (as distinct from natural resources such as oil), geopolitical shifts mandate a moving away from Russia to countries that are close security partners of India, such as the members of the Quad. During the past decade, the multiple blocks on technology cooperation between Indian and US entities that had been a staple since the 1970s have given way to the welcome realisation in Washington that the two largest democracies have much the same security interests, and hence require government-imposed blocks to greater cooperation removed rather than reinforced.
This is a necessity that has been clear to Prime Minister Modi since the inception of the government led by him in 2014. Such an approach has now been accepted by the Biden White House as well, which has been far more willing to go the extra mile for better relations with India than President Barack Obama was, despite the honeyed phrases that Obama would toss around like confetti.
INDIA-EUROPE TIES STRENGTHEN
Although the UK and Germany in particular appeared to be obsessed with Ukraine to the detriment of matters of far greater concern to countries located in the Indo-Pacific, Rishi Sunak and Olaf Scholz did not sacrifice public goodwill in India by concentrating their efforts less towards the themes of the Summit than on efforts to get New Delhi to accept their own Euro-centric view of world events. The UK in particular seems to have become a victim of buyer’s remorse since leaving the EU, and is acting more European post-Brexit than most of the members of the EU where prioritisation of global issues is concerned.
New Delhi, Sept 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Kingdom PM Rishi Sunak exchange greetings during the G20 Leaders’ Summit, at the Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)
Prime Minister Sunak needs to focus more on Global Britain rather than just on European Britain. He needs to take forward the opportunity for much closer India-UK ties that had begun to bloom under Prime Minister David Cameron, but wilted under Prime Minister Theresa May. As for France, that country has been a reliable friend of India since the Presidentship of Jacques Chirac, and Macron is continuing in that tradition, although an over-reliance on defence equipment in the relationship (as had long been was the case with Russia) needs to be avoided. There needs to be much more to France than the production of weapons platforms where India is concerned.
FRIENDS COME CALLING
A welcome participant in the G20 deliberations is Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who has been the first Al Saud to walk away from Wahhabism towards the moderate ethos that is needed for progress in the 21st century. India under Prime Minister Modi wisely refused to join the western chorus against MBS, a cacophony secretly welcomed by China and openly by the Wahhabi International, the latter seeing his efforts at modernisation of the Kingdom as an existential threat.
Other guests include President Al Sisi of Egypt and President Widodo of Indonesia, two time-tested friends of India. Just as with South Africa, a breakthrough is taking place with respect to relations with Nigeria, especially in the context of India successfully persuading the other G20 members to admit the African Union into the group in the manner that the European Union has been from the start.
FOCUS ON GLOBAL SOUTH
The time may have come in a world where fault lines are widening for the consensus approach to be sometimes replaced by coalitions of the willing. In case there are such holdouts, those opposed to a particular outcome should not hold to ransom those in support of such outcomes from making their stand clear. In the same way, at the UNGA and UNSC, those in favour of India being a Permanent Member of the latter need to insist on a vote, so that those opposed to such a necessary change expose themselves to the world. The UNSC remains diminished in value until the world’s most populous country becomes part of its Permanent Membership. The chances are rising that such a UN vote (and hopefully a consensus on the entry of India) would be held during the next five years.
The 2023 G20 Summit is an indicator of the actual degree of interest and concern on the part of the leadership of different countries, particularly in matters relating to the welfare of the planet and the needs of the Global South. Transparency is the watchword of the Digital Age that is dawning upon the world at speed, in no place faster than in India.
The 2023 Summit is dedicated to women-centric development, the welfare of the Global South and the planet, and due respect being given to the great continent of Africa. Any leader who missed coming to it diminished not the Summit but his own standing. There is a Chinese saying that it is best to look afar from the high mountains, and this is what the Modi Presidency of the G20 has done. It has looked at the world from the perspective of humanity as an entirety, and in the process, has during the Summit managed to unite a fractured global order in support of many of the tasks that need to be done in order to ensure a better future for coming generations.
The official hopes that Brazil, which takes over the G20 presidency from India, will take forward the matter…reports Asian Lite News
The negotiations to arrive at the New Delhi declaration which was adopted by G20 leaders were “cumbersome” but it was in line with our discussions, said a European Union official familiar with the negotiations. The official said the EU was “satisfied with the text”.
The official praised the Indian leadership for its “wonderful job” and added that the New Delhi declaration was a “stepping stone” to bringing peace in Ukraine.
The declaration document which stated G20 countries will “unite” for a “just, and durable peace” in Ukraine will be helpful going ahead, the official added.
The New Delhi declaration adopted on Saturday, read, “We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.”
The official hopes that Brazil, which takes over the G20 presidency from India, will take forward the matter.
Speaking on the Black Sea grain deal, the EU official said it was unfortunate that Russia did not hold on to the initiative. “We have not heard anything from Russia,” the official added.
The grain deal that had permitted Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports a year ago, despite the ongoing war, to help alleviate a global food crisis, was terminated by Moscow recently, which claimed that the requirements for the extension had been disregarded.
The EU official also delved on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. He said the work for the deal was on for some time, adding, it will be interesting going forward.
The corridor which will connect Europe with Asia is of “historic importance”, he added.
This initiative could be seen as an alternate supply chain in a completely evolved post-pandemic world order.
India is expected to gain significantly as it places India firmly on the route of trade flows from South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia and Europe, giving India significant strategic and economic advantage, besides creating huge opportunities in the logistics and transportation sector. (ANI)
Modi announced on Saturday that the G20 has officially adopted the New Delhi Declaration, highlighting that member states have successfully reached a consensus…reports Asian Lite News
The New Delhi Leaders’ Summit Declaration was adopted on Saturday in a massive breakthrough as members of the G20 arrived at a “100% consensus” on the opening day of the Summit on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra made the big announcement which the government described as “historic and pathbreaking”.
“I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce to adopt this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible,” PM Modi said while making the announcement.
“It is my proposal that this G20 declaration be adopted,” the Prime Minister said. The declaration was welcomed with G20 members thumping their desks.
India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the New Delhi Declaration – running into 38 paragraphs, was adopted with “100% consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues”.
My heartfelt congratulations to PM @narendramodi Ji on the historic success of our G20 presidency.
Whether it is the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration or the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member, the summit built bridges of trust among geopolitical… pic.twitter.com/i4gA7FCtoS
“The New Delhi Leaders Declaration has been officially adopted at the G20 India Leaders’ Summit! Today’s era must be marked as the golden age of human-centric globalisation and India’s G20 Presidency under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi has worked tirelessly towards this goal,” Kant posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Hammering out a consensus on the “geopolitical paras” – a reference to the wording of the Ukraine crisis which had been a major sticking point – demonstrated Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in today’s world”, Kant added.
This effectively made G20 India “the most ambitious in the history of G20 presidencies”, the top official said.
The government also said that the New Delhi Leaders Declaration had a “huge India narrative, huge India footprint”.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi called for bridging the “global trust deficit” that had been deepened further by the war in Ukraine, as India proposed a new text on the Ukraine crisis to break the deadlock over the Delhi Declaration.
The G20 grouping had been deeply divided over the war in Ukraine, with Western nations pushing for strong condemnation of Russia in the Leaders’ Declaration, while others demanded a focus on broader economic issues.
G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration adopted with the bang of the gavel!
Calling the New Delhi Declaration “historical and path breaking,” G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Friday said that India got the “100 per cent” consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues focussing on Strong, Sustainable, Balanced, and Inclusive Growth Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
Soon after Prime minister Narendra Modi announced that the consensus has been achieved on New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration and announced its adoption, G20 Sherpa Kant congratulated India.
“Historical and Path breaking #G20 Declaration with 100 per cent consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The new geopolitical paras are a powerful call for Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity in today’s world . Demonstrates PM @narendramodi leadership in today’s world,” Kant said on a post shared on X.
“The #NewDelhiLeadersDeclaration focuses on – Strong, Sustainable, Balanced, and Inclusive Growth Accelerating Progress on #SDGs Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century Reinvigorating Multilateralism,” he added.
On the social media account, Kant further said that G20 India has been the most ambitious in the history of the presidencies. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, we have more than doubled the substantive work from previous presidencies.
India’s G20 Presidency has been inclusive, ambitious, decisive, action-oriented and unafraid to challenge the status quo. Under PM Modi, India have given a strong call to action for the leaders to take G20 to the last mile.
Earlier, PM Modi announced, “I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce to adopt this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible…”
India’s Footprint on G20 Outcomes are in Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition, Chennai High-Level Principles for Blue/Ocean Economy, Goa Roadmap for Tourism, Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap for land restoration and Jaipur Call for Action to enhance MSMEs access to information, as per the sources.
Earlier today, PM Modi addressed the Session-I on ‘One Earth’ during the G20 Summit where he began by expressing condolences for the victims of the recent earthquake in Morocco.
He then invited the head of the African Union to take his seat as a member of the G20. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accompanied the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani as he took his seat among world leaders.’
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section of the G20 declaration, striking out several parts of the text in red…reports Asian Lite News
As India and the G20 grouping hailed the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on the first day of the ongoing G20 leaders summit, Ukraine on Saturday said the outcome document was “nothing to be proud of” and criticised it for not mentioning Russia.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section of the G20 declaration, striking out several parts of the text in red, and corrected with wording that reflects the country’s position that it is a victim of unprovoked Russian aggression.
“It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side (in the G20 meeting) would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation,” Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.
However, at the same time, he thanked Ukraine’s allies for doing their bit to advance the country’s position in the text.
“Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong formulations in the text,” he wrote.
The Delhi Declaration does not mention Russia anywhere and refers to the Ukraine conflict as “war in Ukraine”, a major climb down from last year’s Bali Declaration which had condemned the “war against Ukraine”.
A joint statement, ‘Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan’ called for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region, reports Asian Lite News
Afghanistan and its territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts, the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, attended by NSAs or Secretaries of the Security Councils from eight countries declared on Wednesday.
A joint statement, ‘Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan’ called for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region.
It condemned in the strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalization, to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism.
The Declaration stressed the necessity of forming an open and truly inclusive government that represents the will of all the people of Afghanistan and has representation from all sections of their society, including major ethno-political forces in the country.
Inclusion of all sections of the society in the administrative and political structure is imperative for the successful national reconciliation process in the country, the Declaration maintained.
It reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs.
The Declaration expressed deep concern over the suffering of the people of Afghanistan, arising from the security situation in the land locked country and condemned the terrorist attacks in Kunduz, Kandahar and Kabul.
Recalling the relevant UN Resolutions on Afghanistan, the participants at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue noted that the United Nations has a central role to play in Afghanistan and that its continued presence in the country must be preserved.
They emphasized the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated.
The participants at the Dialogue expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
They reiterated that humanitarian assistance should be provided in an unimpeded, direct and assured manner to Afghanistan and that the assistance is distributed within the country in a non-discriminatory manner across all sections of the Afghan society.
They reiterated commitment to provide assistance to Afghanistan to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Also, they reiterated the importance of their dialogue and agreed to remain engaged with each other in the future.
The Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was attended by National Security Advisers / Secretaries of the National Security Councils of India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
PM talks tough on terror
Countries in the region need to adopt a zero-tolerance stance about Afghan territory being used by terrorist groups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.
He also stressed on three other aspects: the need for an inclusive government, a strategy to counter trafficking of drugs and arms from Afghanistan, and addressing the increasingly critical humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Modi’s remarks came when the heads of the National Security Councils of seven nations, who attended the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, collectively called on him.
The Heads of the National Security Councils of seven nations, who are in Delhi for the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan hosted today by National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, collectively called on PM Narendra Modi after the completion of the Dialogue: PMO pic.twitter.com/vpQStX0mpX
The Dialogue was hosted in Delhi by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
In their comments to the Prime Minister, the senior security officers, representing the nations of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, expressed their appreciation of India’s initiative in organising the Dialogue and of the quality of the exchanges.
They also conveyed the perspectives of their respective countries on the Afghan situation, said an official release issued after the meeting.
Prime Minister Modi appreciated the participation of the senior dignitaries in the Delhi Security Dialogue despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Modi also expressed the hope that the Regional Security Dialogue would work to revive Central Asia’s traditions of moderation and progressive culture, and counter extremist tendencies.
India keenly watching Afghanistan
NSA Ajit Doval on Wednesday said India is keenly watching developments in Afghanistan, while calling for close consultations, greater cooperation, interaction and coordination among the regional countries.
“We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan, but also for its neighbours and the region,” NSA Doval said in his opening remarks at the first ever India hosted Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan.
The Security Dialogue is attended by NSAs or Secretaries of the Security Councils from Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The participants at the Dialogue will deliberate upon measures to be taken to address the relevant security challenges and support the people of Afghanistan in promoting peace, security and stability in the landlocked nation.
NSA Doval said recent developments in Afghanistan have implications not only for the people of Afghanistan, but also for its neighbours and the region.
He informed that this is the third meeting of the process that was initiated by Iran in 2018.
“We had the second meeting there as well. We are grateful to Iran for that. It’s a privilege for India to host the dialogue today with participation of all the Central Asian countries and Russia who was the initiator of the idea,” Doval stated.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval chairs the regional security dialogue on Afghanistan in New Delhi
The meeting is being attended by NSA's counterparts from five Central Asian countries, along with Russia and Iran. pic.twitter.com/I0eA6Gr3yW
The NSA hoped that the deliberations will be productive at the Dialogue.
“I’m confident that our deliberations will be productive, useful and will contribute to help the people of Afghanistan and enhance our collective security,” he observed.
The first two editions of the Dialogue were hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2018 and 2019. Pakistan and Iran are not attending the Dialogue, which is the first of its kind conclave that focuses on security-related issues and is distinct from foreign ministry-led talks. This is also the highest number of countries taking part in this format.
