It’s been some quiet diplomacy at work for India on Afghanistan, away from the hurly-burly of the ongoing 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. It’s work that’s seen countries with strategic interest in Afghanistan come together to discuss the situation in the trouble-torn country and prepare for the drawdown of the US-led Nato forces from there by 2014.
Sources noted that “away from the spotlight, India has been determinedly pursuing its objectives in an area of vital strategic interest”. It’s seen India participating in the first trilateral meeting of the US, India and Afghanistan in the US on Tuesday, which had been convened by Afghan deputy foreign minister Jawed Ludin.
These consultations, the first among the three countries that share common interests in the region and have pledged to work together, saw them discuss such vital issues as combating terrorism, violent extremism and increasing regional trade and investment. So far, Indian diplomats have participated in no less than five meetings, both formal and informal, all concerning Afghanistan on the margins of the UNGA.
On Thursday, India was invited to participate in a meeting called by Afghanistan to which all the P5 countries (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) and important stakeholders who are members of the UNSC to had been called. During the meeting, participating countries were briefed about the situation in Afghanistan.
Representing India at the trilateral meet were joint secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) Yash K. Sinha and joint secretary (Americas) Jawed Ashraf, while ambassador Marc Grossman, the US special representative for Af-Pak, was among the top American officials who participated in the meet. Later, Indian foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai had a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Mr Grossman, sources added.
India’s participation in the trilateral isn’t something that will go down well with Pakistan as it views with suspicion and dismay India’s role in Afghanistan. This, even though India and the US have sought to clarify earlier that the trilateral dialogue isn’t aimed against Pakistan. Incidentally, both India and the US also have a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the US unlike Pakistan.
Sources said all aspects of the situation in Afghanistan were discussed during the trilateral meeting discussions that were “free-flowing and frank”.