India in no hurry to recognise Taliban: EAM

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India was not taken into confidence regarding the Doha deal between the Taliban and the US last year and New Delhi is in no hurry to recognise the new regime.

Making these observations in the virtual annual leadership summit of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Jaishankar also cautioned that the latest developments in Afghanistan will have “very, very significant consequences” for the region and beyond.

Jaishankar said the key concerns for India at this juncture included whether Afghanistan will have an inclusive government and that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against other States and the rest of the world. Jaishankar also suggested that India was in no hurry to deliberate on giving any recognition to the new dispensation in Kabul.

He said India and the US are on the same page on many issues relating to the recent developments in Afghanistan including apprehensions about the possible use of Afghan soil for terrorism. The issue figured in discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and



US President Joe Biden in Washington last week, Jaishankar added.

“I think, to some degree, we would all be justified in having levels of concern and to some degree, I think the jury’s still out. When I say levels of concern, you know, there were commitments which were made by the Taliban, at Doha, I mean, the US knows that best I mean, we were not taken into confidence on various aspects of that,” he said.

“So whatever, whether deal which was struck in Doha, I mean, one has a broad sense. But beyond that, you know, are we going to see an inclusive government? Are we going to see respect for the rights of women, children, minorities,” he asked.

He said what had happened in Afghanistan, is going to “have very, very significant consequences for all of us, and we are so close to the region”.

These concerns were reflected in the UN Security Council resolution in August and that how those questions are addressed today is still an open question, which is why “I said the jury is still out”.