India has been consistent in its stand that any peace move must be "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad discussed the latest developments in the Afghan peace talks during a phone call today.

"Received a call from US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad @US4AfghanPeace. Discussed latest developments pertaining to peace talks. We will remain in touch," EAM Jaishankar said on Twitter.



The two had earlier met and discussed the situation in Afghanistan during Khalilzad's visit to India in September last year. It was his fifth visit to the country since January 2019. Jaishankar had later described it as a "useful discussion".

India has been following the evolving political situation in Afghanistan closely after the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February last year, providing for the withdrawal of American troops from the country.

It has been consistent in its stand that any peace move in the area must be "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled".

India is a major stakeholder in Afghanistan with projects in all its 34 provinces.

Since 2001, India has undertaken projects worth $3 billion in Afghanistan, including $1 billion pledged in 2016 under the “new development partnership” scheme over a period of five years.