Jaishankar, Afghan Counterpart Atmar Talk Peace, Cooperation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammad HaneefAtmar recently held wide-ranging talks with a focus on the peace process in Afghanistan and on boosting cooperation in areas of security, connectivity and trade.

Strategic partnership:

• The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated “India’s long-term commitment towards making Afghanistan a united, peaceful and prosperous constitutional democracy respecting the will of its people”.
• Taking India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership forward, issues of bilateral & regional interest including development cooperation, trade & investment, regional connectivity, security cooperation and peace process were discussed.
• The Afghan foreign minister’s visit to India came days after Russia hosted a conference between Afghan government and the Taliban in Moscow, and pressed for a ceasefire in the war-ravaged country.
• The Afghan foreign minister said he was looking forward to holding talks with Jaishankar and senior Indian officials on the Afghan peace process as well as on security and economic cooperation.
• The Afghan foreign ministry said the purpose of Atmar’s visit to India is to discuss bilateral relations, strengthen regional and international consensus on the Afghan peace process, and enhance cooperation in security, economic, political and cultural spheres.

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT