India was trying to bring out as many people as possible from Afghanistan, the minister said and evacuating Indian personnel was a “top priority”, the EAM said…reports Asian Lite News.
At an all-party meeting, convened by the Centre to discuss the prevailing situation in Afghanistan was held on Thursday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said the crisis in Afghanistan was “extremely critical” and India’s top priority was to evacuate “as many as possible”.
“Thirty-five people have been brought back today,” he said. Further, the EAM reportedly said the Taliban “have not kept their word given in Doha” while finalising on the peace treaty, adding India, at the moment, had adopted a “wait and watch” policy over the chaos in Afghanistan.
Among other things, the Doha pact, signed between Taliban leaders and the US in February 2020, envisaged religious freedom and democracy, with a government in Kabul that represented all sections of Afghan society.
India was trying to bring out as many people as possible from Afghanistan, the minister said and evacuating Indian personnel was a “top priority”, the EAM said.
Jaishankar spoke to leaders of several political parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, on the latest situation in the war-ravaged nation after the Taliban seized power last week.
PM should brief opposition on Afghanistan: Congress
During the all-party meet held on Thursday, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Anand Sharma and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should brief the opposition about the situation in Afghanistan and the government’s stand with regard to the war-torn nation.
The Congress leaders also asked about the reports of ‘secret’ talks being held in Doha, Qatar, with the Taliban to discuss the Afghanistan crisis, but sources said the government did not comment on the matter.
The Congress leaders also demanded to know about the government’s evacuation strategy and how many Indians are still stranded in Afghanistan.
The Congress leaders asked the government to expresses solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and uphold the principles of fundamental right and freedom.
What steps for humanitarian assistance are being taken by the government of India, they demanded to konw.
The Congress delegation said that there is a perception that India appears to be isolated from its traditional allies in the region.
“The Prime Minister recently spoke to the Russian President and the German Chancellor. We would like to know what transpired during these discussions? Further, what diplomatic or other strategic steps are being planned to strengthen our position, both in the short term and in the long run,” the Congress delegation asked, as per sources.
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