We are optimistic about it: Taliban on India's security dialogue on Afghanistan

New Delhi: The Taliban has welcomed the eight-nation dialogue hosted by India on the Afghan crisis saying holding regional meetings on Afghanistan would lead to a greater understanding.

Addressing a press conference, the Taliban’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate was optimistic about the ongoing meeting on Afghanistan in India.

National Security Advisers or Secretaries of the Security Council of five Central Asian countries – Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan besides Russia and Iran – attended the New Delhi meet on Afghanistan today and reviewed the security situation in the region arising from recent developments in the crisis-ridden country.

Delhi dialogue witnessed the highest participation of seven nations

The meeting is a continuation of the format started by Tehran in 2018 and 2019; however, this time dialogue witnessed the highest participation of seven nations.

The dialogue deliberated upon measures to address the relevant security challenges and support the people of Afghanistan in promoting peace, security and stability.

The Delhi declaration on Afghanistan has emphasised that its’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts.

NSAs of 7 nations call for an open, truly inclusive govt in Afghanistan

The participants condemned in the strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including its financing, dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalisation to ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism.

The necessity of forming an open and truly inclusive government that represents the will of all people of Afghanistan and has representation from all sections of their society, including major ethnopolitical forces there was also stressed.

Emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated, the participants also underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

After the meeting, National Security Advisors of seven nations also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.