US-Taliban truce: India reiterates support for 'Afghan-led, Afghan-controlled process'

Reacting to US-Taliban peace deal and US-Afghanistan joint declaration, India on Saturday reiterated that it supports all opportunities that can bring peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan which will le to a lasting political settlement through an Afghan-controlled process.

"India's consistent policy is to support all opportunities that can bring peace, security, and stability in Afghanistan; end violence; cut ties with international terrorism; and le to a lasting political settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled process,"  Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a statement.

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Raveesh Kumar said India ackwledged that entire political spectrum in Afghanistan, including Government, democratic polity, and civil society, has welcomed agreements for peace and stability. 

"As a contiguous neighbour, India will continue to extend all support to Government and people of Afghanistan in realising ir aspirations for a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future where interest of all sections of Afghan society are protected," said Kumar.

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Afghan Peace Deal

United States and  Taliban on Saturday signed a peace deal in Doha after months of negotiations, aimed at ending 18-year long war in Afghanistan. As per joint declaration between Afghan and Washington,  United States will withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan within 14 months. move is "subject to Taliban's fulfilment of its commitments under US-Taliban agreement."

US President Donald Trump said US was "working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home". Under agreement, militants also agreed t to allow al-Qaeda or any or extremist group to operate in areas y control.

Sher Mohamm Abbas Stanikzai, a member of Taliban's office in Qatar, called peace deal a 'historic day for Afghanistan' and told Afghanistan's TOLO News, " US guaranteed that 5,000 prisoners would be released before intra-Afghan talks."

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Global community on US-Taliban deal

Major powers such as US, Russia, and Iran h reached out to Taliban as part of efforts to push stalled Afghan peace process, that Donald Trump h abruptly declared as "de" on September 10, 2019.

India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process led by Afghanistan. India 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.

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(With inputs from ANI)