Afghanistan: ‘Grave humanitarian crisis unfolding’, India warns at UN
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: India on Tuesday warned at the United Nations that a grave humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Afghanistan which the Taliban fighters recaptured last week.
The current situation in Afghanistan is of “great concern” to it, India said, expressing the hope that it does not pose a challenge to its neighbours and the war-torn country is not used by terrorist groups like the LeT and JeM.
Addressing a special session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the situation in Afghanistan, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey, said a “grave” humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the country and everyone is concerned about the increasing violations of fundamental rights of the Afghan people.
India hopes that the situation stabilises soon, and the parties concerned address the humanitarian and security issues.
“We also hope that there is an inclusive and broad-based dispensation which represents all sections of Afghan society. Voices of Afghan women, aspirations of Afghan children and the rights of minorities must be respected,” he said.
A broad-based representation would help the arrangement gain more acceptability and legitimacy, Pandey added.
Stability in Afghanistan is linked to the peace and security of the entire region.
“We hope that the situation in Afghanistan does not pose a challenge to its neighbours and its territory is not used by terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to threaten any other country,” he said.
The Indian Ambassador said as a neighbour of Afghanistan, the situation prevailing in the country is of “great concern” to India.
“We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation in Afghanistan and we continue to call upon parties concerned to maintain law and order, ensure the safety and security of all Afghan nationals, UN personnel and diplomatic staff members, and observe human rights and international humanitarian law in all circumstances in Afghanistan,” he added.
The UNHRC is holding a special session to discuss the human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan after Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15.
