His visit is taking place at a time when intra-Afghan talks are on at Doha in Qatar
Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a five-day visit. As the head of the reconciliation body, he is overseeing the intra-Afghan talks going on at Doha in Qatar.
During his visit, the Afghan leader is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Before embarking his journey to India, he took to twitter, stating, “India is a strategic partner of AFG, & has continuously supported the government & people of AFG. Our historical relations with India is very important to us, & the role of India in establishing a lasting peace in AFG.”
Dr Abdullah before his departure to India stated: ‘India is a strategic partner of AFG, & has continuously supported the government & people of AFG. Our historical relations with India is very important to us, & the role of India in establishing a lasting peace in AFG... 4/5
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) October 6, 2020
India is vital for Afghanistan and both sides will exchange views on peace talks in Doha, regional support for the process, and overall bilateral relations, he reiterated.
The Afgha leader is visiting India for the first time after the formation of the new government in Kabul following last year’s contested election. He has visited India earlier as Chief Executive Officer of the Afghan government.
India, one of the largest development partners of Afghanistan, with the commitment of more than US $ 3 billion, has time and again reiterated the importance of an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process.
Earlier in September, New Delhi attended the intra-Afghanistan peace talks held in Doha, where Joint Secretary JP Singh-led-Indian delegation met Abdullah.
The talks were virtually attended by External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and he told the gathering that the peace process must be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled”, must “respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan”, and “promote human rights and democracy.”
He had further noted that the interest of women and minorities in Afghanistan must be ensured amid violence across the country.
“The friendship of our peoples is a testimony to our history with Afghanistan. No part of Afghanistan is untouched by our 400-plus development projects. Confident that this civilizational relationship will continue to grow,” he said in a tweet.
The friendship of our peoples is a testimony to our history with Afghanistan.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 12, 2020
No part of Afghanistan is untouched by our 400-plus development projects.
Confident that this civilizational relationship will continue to grow.
Days after the intra-Afghan talks in September, Senior Afghan leader Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum had visited India and held talks on the peace process with Jaishankar.
India, Afghanistan's relationship is not limited to high-level exchanges between the governments of both sides but has its foundations in the historical contacts between the people.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, India assisted Afghanistan with healthcare support. India’s efforts were appreciated by the Afghan government.