Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah meets NSA Doval, CDS Gen Rawat to discuss peace process

He of Afghanistan's peace council Abdullah Abdullah met with India's National Security viser Ajit Doval and or senior officials in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed peace process in war-torn country.

Abdullah arrived in national capital on Tuesday on a five-day visit during which he will hold also talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

In a statement on Twitter, Abdullah said Doval has assured him of India’s full support for peace efforts, and that any peace settlement acceptable to Afghans, will have support of New Delhi. "He [Ajit Doval] furr stated that his country is in favor an independent, democratic, sovereign and peaceful Afghanistan, where terrorists can operate. I thanked India for invitation, its continued support for Afghanistan, and its constructive role in peace efforts," Abdullah said.

Afghan delegation also met Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and foreign secretary Harsh Shringla. re has been immediate statement on meeting from Indian side.

visit of influential Afghan leer to India comes in midst of peace talks between Afghan government and Taliban in Doha. Afghan officials said visit is part of efforts to build a regional consensus and support for Afghan peace process. Taliban and Afghan government are holding direct talks for first time to end 19 years of war that has killed tens of thousands of people and ravd various parts of country.

Last month, ar influential Afghan leer Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum h visited India.

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Close eye on peace process

India has been a major stakeholder in peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has alrey invested USD two billion in aid and reconstruction activities in country. India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled.

On September 12, an Indian delegation attended inaugural ceremony of intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha while Jaishankar joined it through video conference. 

India has been keenly following evolving political situation after US signed a peace deal with Taliban in February. deal provided for withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war in country. US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001.

New Delhi has also been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does t le to any "ungoverned s" where terrorists and ir proxies can relocate, in a clear reference to Afghan border areas joining Pakistan where anti-India groups have flourished under Pakistan Army's and ISI's care.

(Photo: Twitter/@DrabdullahCE)

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