New Delhi: Expressing hope for peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan, India on Wednesday welcomed President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to form a team for intra-Afghan negotiation, which would help in freeing the war-ravaged country from the scourge of “externally sponsored” terrorism.
“India welcomes the announcement by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan about formation of a team for intra-Afghan negotiations,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
In March, Afghan President had pardoned thousands of Taliban prisoners in a key preliminary step to intra-Afghan talks between a government delegation and the extremist group.
However, the Taliban had conducted several attacks against Afghan forces at many places.
The move came in action weeks after the US inked a historic peace deal with the Taliban, effectively drawing curtains to Washington’s 18-year war in Afghanistan since 2001.
India also appealed to people across all political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of citizens of Afghanistan, including the minority community for a prosperous and safe future.
“India has consistently supported an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process for enduring peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” the ministry said.
MEA further added, “In this context, we view the formation of the team as a positive step which would lead to a peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan free from the scourge of externally sponsored terrorism.”
The deal, inked on February 29, allows for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001.
India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
More than 10,000 civilians were killed or wounded in Afghanistan’s war last year, according to the United Nations.
The team, announced late on Thursday by the Afghanistan’s Ministry of Peace, is headed by Masoom Stanekzai, a former chief of the National Directorate of Security and supporter of President Ashraf Ghani, and includes politicians, former officials and representatives of civil society. Five members in the team are women.
