New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan’s top peace negotiator with Taliban, “successfully” concluded his four-day official visit to India during which he apprised the Indian government of progress on the ongoing intra-Afghan peace process and discussed bilateral, regional and international matters.
Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), thanked the “neighbours of Afghanistan” for expressing their full support for the Afghan peace process.
He said regional consensus and cooperation is pivotal for peace in Afghanistan.
“Successfully concluded a four days official visit to India. I would like to thank excellencies the PM, the External Affairs Minister, the NSA, the Govt., & people of India for their warm welcome & hospitality. I thank the neighbors of Afghanistan for expressing their full support for the Afghan Peace Process. Regional consensus, & cooperation is pivotal for peace in our country,” Dr Abdullah Abdullah said after concluding his visit.
The Afghan leader who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during the visit held wide-ranging discussions with them including the Afghan Peace Process.
The Prime Minister assured him of India’s continued support to the Afghan peace process and long-term commitment to further deepening historic ties between the two countries in keeping with New Delhi’s Neighbourhood First Policy.
The Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to sustainable peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and welcomed efforts towards a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the war-ravaged country.
The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral and regional interest. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah briefed the Prime Minster on the Afghan peace process and the ongoing talks in Doha. “Bilateral issues, including India’s development cooperation with Afghanistan, were discussed”, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.
The Afghan leader appreciated India’s developmental commitment of 3 billion US Dollar projects which, he said, are benefiting Afghans in all 34 provinces.
“Pleased to meet Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Republic of India. In our friendly discussion we took stock of the latest developments on the Afghan peace process, the talks in Doha and India’s support for the peace efforts. The Prime Minister assured me of India’s continued support for the peace process and Afghanistan. I thanked him and the people of India for the invitation and generous hospitality. I also thanked India for its principled position on the Afghanistan peace process,” he said after the meeting with the Prime Minister.
