Afghanistan foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar meets S Jaishankar, lauds India's role in Afghan peace process

New Delhi: Afghanistan foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar on Tuesday (July 13, 2021) lauded India's 'constructive role' in 'strengthening' regional consensus on the Afghan peace process. During the meet with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Mohammad Haneef Atmar underscored the constructive role of India in... the preservation of the achievements of the last two decades. 

The in-person bilateral meet took place in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation foreign ministers' meet. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets Indian Minister of External Affairs
July 13, 2021
---------------------------------- pic.twitter.com/UJCViSx2lb — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Afghanistan  (@mfa_afghanistan) July 13, 2021

Afghanistan, notably, has seen women's rights, minority rights being granted, and increased liberty as compared to the Taliban era of the 1990s, which many countries have called to be preserved.

The meet also came amid increased violence in the country by the Taliban as American forces leave after two decades. 

While many districts have fallen into the hands of the Taliban, the Afghan forces are also giving tough resistance.  

Referring to the escalation of the Taliban attacks in 'collusion with foreign fighters and regional and international terrorist networks against civilians and the Afghan defense forces', Atmar said that overcoming this common threat was of vital importance to regional security.

During the meet with his Indian counterpart, Atmar discussed many issues including India's cooperation with Afghanistan in various fields and the joint fight against terrorism. The Afghan foreign minister also briefed about President Ashraf Ghani's visit to the United States.

Began my Dushanbe visit by meeting with Afghan FM @MHaneefAtmar. Appreciate his update on recent developments. Looking forward to the meeting of the SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/O34PDkOFoh — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 13, 2021

He also had a meeting with Pakistani FM SM Qureshi and the contrast was evident with the Afghan side asking Islamabad to cut funding for the Taliban.

Terming the presence of foreign fighters and regional and international terrorist networks alongside the Taliban 'a major threat to the region', Afghan FM emphasized practical cooperation between regional countries, particularly Pakistan in closing shelters and ceasing funding sources of the Taliban.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets Pakistani Foreign Minister
July 13, 2021
--------------------------https://t.co/zy3lbodaUB pic.twitter.com/roxGVxSp8u — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Afghanistan  (@mfa_afghanistan) July 13, 2021

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

The Afghan FM also asked Pakistani FM to 'encourage' the group to 'resume meaningful talks' and find a political solution to the success of the Afghan peace process. 

Wednesday will see the SCO - Afghanistan contact group meeting.