India, US reiterate working towards secure Indo-Pacific & advance peace in Afghanistan

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed ways to strengn relationship between US and India in order to work towards peace, prosperity and security in Indo-Pacific region and in Afghanistan. two leaders also reiterated ir commitment to fighting Covid-19 pandemic which has taken world host.

"Great speaking with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar about US-India relationship and our work to combat COVID-19 pandemic. We remain united to advance peace in Afghanistan, and to a secure and sovereign Indo-Pacific in which all countries can prosper," Pompeo said after his call with Jaishankar.

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two leaders agreed to continue close cooperation on a range of issues pertaining to regional and international prominence and look forward to Quadrilateral consultations and US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, US State Department Cale Brown said in a statement.

Pompeo had recently spoken about Chinese aggression on South China sea which has ramifications on Indo-Pacific waters, an international water body, and formation of Quad group to counter Chinese aggression, coupled with ASEAN nations having a similar say on issue.

"We're proud to have stepped up maritime maeuvres in that body of water alongside friends like Australia, India, Japan, and UK," he said. He said all 10 ASEAN nations have insisted that South China Sea disputes must be settled on basis of international law, including UNCLOS. 

China has been facing a flurry of criticisms from international fora over spread of COVID-19 pandemic originating from its soil and its discreet way of handling pandemic to allow its spread across world. To add to it, Chinese aggression in Indo Pacific waters by claiming sovereignty over South China sea plus its violent aggression in Eastern Ladakh along LAC with India has made many who share a border with China via land or sea, turn against country. Besides gross human rights violation of China by imposing draconian national security law in Hong Kong threatening automy of city, and gecide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province has invited harsh reactions and criticisms from international fora and brought world's attention to Chinese malpractices.

Also, world is taking te of security threat that Chinese tech giants such as Huawei pose to entire world by spying over or nations, hence Huawei has been officially barred by US from telecommunications and developmental projects and  or nations have also advised ir 5G developers to chose alternatives to Huawei, citing security issues.

With regards to peace process in Afghanistan, Mike Pompeo and Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar had discussed start of intra-Afghan talks over a recent video call.

Also Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with Vinay Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Kabul, on Monday afteron wherein two sides deliberated importance of furr strengning regional consensuses on Afghan peace process.

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