Historic relationship with Afghan people to continue: EAM S Jaishankar on Indian investment in Afghanistan

Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on August 18, 2021 that India’s historic relationship with the Afghan people will continue and that will guide its approach in the coming days. He said this upon being asked about the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Responding to the question ‘how will India deal with Taliban’ at UNSC, Jaishankar said that India like everybody else is at the moment very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. He said India’s focus is on ensuring security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals.

At the moment, we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in #Afghanistan. Our focus is on ensuring security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals: EAM S Jaishankar at UNSC on being asked ‘how will India deal with Taliban’ (18.08.2021) pic.twitter.com/WuWI4bq68n

— ANI (@ANI)
August 19, 2021

What about Indian investment in Afghanistan?

Speaking about Indian investment in Afghanistan, S Jaishankar said that, “For us, it reflected what was our historical relationship with Afghan people. That relation with Afghan people obviously continues. That will guide our approach to Afghanistan in the coming days.”

For us, it (Indian investment in #Afghanistan) reflected what was our historical relationship with Afghan people. That relation with Afghan people obviously continues. That will guide our approach to Afghanistan in the coming days: EAM S Jaishankar at UNSC in New York (18.08) pic.twitter.com/3vaeSgxPD9

— ANI (@ANI)
August 19, 2021

Further, while answering to the question on whether India has had any communication with the Taliban in recent days, the external affairs minister said that at this point, India is looking at what is the situation in Kabul. He said, “Obviously, the Taliban & its representatives have come to Kabul. So we need to take it on from there.”

At this point of time, we’re looking at what is the situation in Kabul. Obviously, Taliban & its representatives have come to Kabul. So we need to take it on from there: EAM S Jaishankar on being asked ‘had India has any communication with Taliban in recent days’ (18.08) pic.twitter.com/r2txnCZCJ7

— ANI (@ANI)
August 19, 2021

Background 

•The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had chaired the United Nations Security Council briefing on “threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts” earlier today. India is the president of the United Nations Security Council for August month. 

•Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, India has been evacuating its citizens from the war-torn nation with the support of the Indian Air Force. India is expected to send another Air Force plane to evacuate other stranded people in Afghanistan. Many Indians still continue to be stranded in Afghanistan. 

•The Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan along with his staff were evacuated earlier aboard IAF aircraft. The External Affairs Minister had tweeted saying that the movement of the Indian Ambassador and the Embassy staff from Kabul to India was a difficult and complicated exercise.

Movement of the Indian Ambassador and the Embassy staff from Kabul to India was a difficult and complicated exercise. Thank all those whose cooperation and facilitation made it possible.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar)
August 17, 2021

•The Ministry of External Affairs 24×7 Special Afghanistan Cell has also been reinforced. The details are in the below tweet.  

MEA’s 24×7 Special Afghanistan Cell has been reinforced.

UPDATED contact details:

Phone numbers: +91-11-49016783, +91-11-49016784, +91-11-49016785
WhatsApp number: +91-8010611290
Email: SituationRoom@mea.gov.in https://t.co/Suc9eF4hDw

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia)
August 17, 2021