Pahalgam massacre: In a first, Jaishankar thanks Afghan FM for support to India
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: India on Thursday welcomed Afghanistan’s firm rejection of attempts to sow distrust between New Delhi and Kabul as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar thanked Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
In their first publicly acknowledged phone conversation, Dr. Jaishankar also “deeply” appreciated Muttaqi’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, the media reported on Friday.
“Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports,” Dr. Jaishankar said, in an apparent reference to a report in a section of the Pakistani media that claimed India had “hired” the Taliban to carry out a “false flag” operation at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
Describing their conversation as good, he said he “Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continuing support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward.”
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, India has not yet recognised its government and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul.
New Delhi has also been insisting that the Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any other country.
The telephonic conversation between the two foreign ministers came more than four months after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Muttaqi in Dubai.
An Afghan readout of the Jaishankar-Muttaqi talks said the two sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral relations, promoting trade, and advancing diplomatic engagement.
“Foreign Minister Muttaqi referred to India as a key regional country and highlighted the historic nature of Afghanistan-India relations, expressing optimism that these ties will grow stronger,” it said.
Muttaqi also reiterated Kabul’s commitment to a “balanced” foreign policy and the pursuit of constructive relations with all nations.
“In the conversation, Muttaqi requested facilitation in issuing visas for Afghan traders and patients, and called for the release and return of Afghan prisoners currently held in India, it said.
Dr. Jaishankar asserted that India shares historic ties with Afghanistan and reaffirmed New Delhi’s intention to continue its cooperation with Kabul, the readout said.
“He underlined the importance of collaboration in political and economic spheres. Jaishankar also assured prompt attention to the issue of Afghan prisoners and pledged to streamline the visa process,” it said.
The two sides also emphasised on the development of the Chabahar Port, it added.
