New Delhi, October 10: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi held bilateral talks here on Friday.
External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar described the talks as a renaissance of India’s relations with Afghanistan and announced the granting of embassy status to the Indian mission in Kabul.
Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi is on a visit to India from October 9 to 16. He held a formal meeting and talks with the External Affairs Minister. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said, “As a close neighbor and well-wisher of the people, India has a deep interest in the development and progress of Afghanistan. Today, I reaffirm that our long-standing partnership, under which numerous Indian projects have been completed in Afghanistan, will now move forward in a strong manner.”
Describing the situation of Afghan refugees as a matter of serious concern, India expressed its commitment to assist in their rehabilitation.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated that India would construct housing and provide essential materials for these refugees so they could live a life of dignity.
He also noted that a common challenge facing India and Afghanistan is cross-border terrorism, which threatens the stability and development of both countries. India stressed the need for coordinated efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and appreciated the Afghan side’s understanding of India’s security concerns.