PM Modi spoke for the first time on Taliban-Afghanistan

Ground Report | New Delhi: PM Modi on Taliban-Afghanistan; Addressing the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the countries of the organization should ensure that the land of Afghanistan is not used to spread terrorism.

PM Modi on Taliban-Afghanistan

This was the first time that Prime Minister Modi had said something about the Taliban on an international platform. On 15 August the Taliban captured Kabul and with it declared control of Afghanistan.

President Ashraf Ghani had to flee on the same day. Events in Afghanistan changed very rapidly but there was no statement from PM Modi of India. For the first time from the forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, PM Modi commented on the situation in Afghanistan. He said that the political transformation in Afghanistan has not been through an inclusive process, nor has the path of dialogue been chosen for it.

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During his address at an Afghanistan-themed outreach summit between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, he said the recent developments in Afghanistan will have the greatest impact on neighboring countries.

"The first issue is that the regime change in Afghanistan was not inclusive and it happened without dialogue. This raises questions about the possibility of the new regime being recognized. Representation of all sections of the Afghan community, including women and minorities, is important," he said. and therefore it is essential that the global community consider carefully and collectively when deciding whether to recognize the new political order in Afghanistan.

India's support for "central role

He also spoke of India's support for the "central role" of the United Nations in the global discussion regarding the current order in Afghanistan. The Taliban has announced an "interim government" in Afghanistan, but India has not yet recognized that government.

PM Modi said that the member countries of SCO have been dealing with terrorism and hence they should ensure that the land of Afghanistan is not used to promote terrorism.

"If instability persists in Afghanistan and the country remains vulnerable to terrorist forces, radical ideologies will flourish," he said. He also expressed apprehension of misuse of weapons and other things left by the US and foreign powers.

He said Western forces had left "a large number of weapons" in Afghanistan. In such a situation, the country can also emerge as a big center of drugs, illegal arms, and human trafficking.

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PM Modi also urged member countries to prepare a "code of conduct" to combat terrorism financing and cross-border terrorism to deal with the repercussions of instability in Afghanistan.

Expressing India's commitment to Afghanistan, PM Modi said, "We are willing to provide food, medicines, etc. to Afghanistan. Together we should ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Afghanistan without stopping."

Pakistan and China also commented

In the same conference, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that instability in Afghanistan can become a problem for other countries. He said leaving Afghanistan alone could lead to civil war and have a negative impact on neighboring countries. He said that there is no way to resolve this except through dialogue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that outside forces should never be allowed to interfere in any other country. In his speech, Xi said, "The countries of the world should be given strong help to choose their own system of governance and find their own path of progress."

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