DELHI REGIONAL SECURITY DIALOGUE ON AFGHANISTAN

• In the coming days, India will be hosting the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’.
• The meeting will be held at the level of National Security Advisors (NSAs) and will be chaired by India’s NSA Ajit Doval.

Important points:

• India’s top security establishment, the National Security Council Secretariat, has taken the lead in organising the in-person meeting.
• Invitations were sent to Afghanistan’s neighbours such as Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and other key players including Russia, and China.
• After the withdrawal of US forces and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, India is concerned about security in the region.
• In this context, India has taken this initiative to organise a conference of regional stakeholders and important powers on the country’s current situation and future outlook.
• This meeting could be India’s attempt to secure for itself a seat at the table to decide the future course of action on Afghanistan.
• The meeting also reflects the need to actively engage with the world to protect India’s security interests.
• The Central Asian countries, as well as Russia and Iran, have confirmed participation.
• The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India’s role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan.
• Pakistan’s National Security Advisor has held that he would not attend the meeting.
• China has also decided to skip a regional security meeting due to scheduling difficulties, but is open to maintaining discussions with India through bilateral channels.
• India is of the view that the denial by Pakistan to attend this meeting reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate.

National Security Council Secretariat

• India formed a National Security Council (NSC) in 1999, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon by it.
• NSC acts as the apex body, headed by the Prime Minister.
• NSC comprises the three-tier structure- Strategic Policy Group (SPG), the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the National Security Council Secretariat.
• The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its members and the National Security Adviser acts as its Secretary.

SOURCE: THE HINDU ,THE ECONOMIC TIMES, MINT