KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar have exchanged views on the Afghan peace process, The Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday.
At a meeting in Dushanbe on Monday, S Jaishankar shared with Ghani India’s perspectives on the renewed peace push in the conflict-devastated country.
Both Ghani and Jaishankar are in the capital of Tajikistan to attend the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) ministerial conference.
Following the meeting, the Indian external affairs minister wrote on his Twitter account: “Honour to call on President @ashrafghani before the commencement of @HeartofAsia_IP Conference. Shared our perspectives on the peace process.”
Bring a major stakeholder in Afghanistan’s peace and stability. India has invested two billion dollars in aid and reconstruction in the country.
New Delhi has been supportive of an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process.
Dushanbe is hosting the conference focused on strengthening a regional and international consensus for peace in Afghanistan.
Earlier in the month, Russia hosted an international conference on Afghanistan. Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan were in attendance.
President Ashraf Ghani also met with Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process ministerial meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
During the meeting, which took place at the Tajikistan Presidential Palace in Bustan Sarai, in Dushanbe, Ghani first inquired about the health of Prime Minister Imran Khan who is recovering from COVID-19.
The meeting however, focused largely on the Afghan peace process. Qureshi stated Pakistan supports the desired goal of achieving peace in an independent, united and democratic Afghanistan.
Qureshi meanwhile condemned the increase in violence in Afghanistan, and said Pakistan fully supported a reduction in violence and a ceasefire in Afghanistan. (DOA)