India to seek Taliban accountability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will urge the G20 to demand accountability from Taliban based on the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Afghanistan and call for an inclusive government in Kabul with participation of minorities and women at the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan on Tuesday.Modi, who will be joined by US President Joe Biden among other G20 leaders in the virtual event, is also expected to highlight the possibility of external players (read Pakistan) seeking to use Afghan territory to promote cross-border terror, people aware of the matter told ET. Last month, India had stated that the global approach to address the Afghan crisis must be guided by the UNSC resolution 2593 that demands that the territory of Afghanistan must not be used for terrorism or attack on any other country and that a negotiated political settlement should be found out to the conflict in the country. The resolution specifically refers to terrorist individuals proscribed by UNSC including those belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla had last month said there was recognition of the need to uphold human rights, including of women and minorities, and to encourage all parties for an "inclusive, negotiated political settlement" and that India expected the international community to remain both responsive and united to deal with the Afghan crisis.He had also said the UNSC resolution, adopted during India's presidency of the UNSC in August, also sets expectations on safe passage and secure departure of Afghans and all foreign nationals who wish to leave that country.Prime minister Modi, during his address at the UN General Assembly last month, had said, "It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan's territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities. We also need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests. At this time, people of Afghanistan, women and children, minorities need help. We must fulfil our duties by providing them with help." He had also highlighted the threat from the radical ideology. Earlier in September, addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Modi had indicated that India would refrain from recognising the Taliban government in the near future.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3mISI3Z