Munawar Zaman
Press TV, New Delhi
Several Central Asian nations have held high security talks in Indian capital New Delhi. The talks were aimed at addressing relevant security challenges in Afghanistan and its impact on the neighboring countries.
New Delhi hosted a third regional summit to discuss the ongoing situation in neighboring Afghanistan following the recent pull out of US and NATO forces from the country. The conference was chaired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counterparts from other central Asian nations.
Top security officials reiterated pledge to work for ensuring safe Afghanistan and what they called “Free of safe haven for global terrorism.” The delegates also called for formation of inclusive government in Kabul stressing the territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist activities.
This could perhaps be the first time that the central Asian countries are coming together on a single platform to not only discuss their roles in rebuilding war-ravaged Afghanistan but also to formulate collective strategies which can promote peace, stability and security in the region.
Issues related to radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region were also discussed in the meeting. The officials expressed deep concern about the sufferings afghan people have endured before and after the US fallout. Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani stressed on rebuilding inclusive Afghanistan saying US policies brought nothing but miseries and devastation in the region.
Security chiefs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also attended the talks, however neighboring China and Pakistan did not attend the forum citing “scheduling reasons.” The first two editions of the event were held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019.
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