The EAM arrived in New York on Monday to chair meeting in the UN Security Council on technology and peacekeeping

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his British counterpart Dominic Raab have agreed to work together to tackle shared security threats in Afghanistan, support refugees and ease the humanitarian plight of ordinary Afghans.

Jaishankar arrived in New York on Monday to chair meeting in the UN Security Council on technology and peacekeeping and on counter-terrorism under India’s current presidency of the Council.

During his visit, he held bilateral meetings and discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other foreign ministers, focusing on the situation in Afghanistan.

"Welcome the conversation today with UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Exchanged views on the Afghanistan developments and the immediate challenges," Jaishankar tweeted after his meeting with his British counterpart on Wednesday.

Raab said he spoke to Jaishankar about the situation in Afghanistan.

"The UK & India will work together to tackle shared security threats, support refugees, and ease the humanitarian plight of ordinary Afghans," Raab tweeted.

On Wednesday, after chairing the UNSC open debate on peacekeeping, Jaishankar at the Security Council stakeout said India is closely following the developments in Afghanistan.

“At the moment we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. I think our focus is on ensuring the security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there,” Jaishankar told the reporters.

India has said that the main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport.

"The Government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is open for commercial operations," the Ministry of External Affairs had said on Tuesday.

Jaishankar also discussed the "latest developments” in Afghanistan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and “underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul.