India's Ambassador to Qatar P Kumaran represented the country at the signing of the landmark peace deal between the US and the Afghan Taliban in Doha on Feb 29, 2020.
India's decision marks a major shift in the policy. India was invited for the signing-in ceremony by the Qatar government. It is for the first time New Delhi sent an official representative to an event involving the Taliban.
In November 2018, however, India had sent two former diplomats in "non-official" capacity to a conference on Afghan peace process in Moscow.
Diplomats from a number of countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia were present during signing of the deal which marks end of the United States' war in Afghanistan since 2001.
The United States has, however, cautioned that it "will not hesitate to nullify" its historic deal with the Taliban if the insurgents renege on their security guarantees.
This was stated by the US Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
His comments came as the US signed an accord with the Taliban in Doha, laying out a timetable for a full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 14 months as it seeks an exit from its longest-ever war. But on a visit to Kabul, Esper warned that "should the Taliban fail to honour their commitments they will forfeit their chance to sit with fellow Afghans and deliberate on the future of their country."
"Moreover the United States would not hesitate to nullify the agreement," he added.
The deal allows for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan.
The US, Russia and Iran have been reaching out to the Taliban as part of efforts to push the stalled Afghan peace process.
India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled.
US officials and Taliban representatives have signed a final peace deal after months of negotiations in Qatar's capital to end the United States's longest war, fought in Afghanistan since 2001.
Saturday's agreement, signed in Doha in the presence of leaders from Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey India, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, will pave the way for the United States to gradually withdraw its troops.
MEA Spokesperson's response to media queries on the the issuance of a Joint Declaration between the Afghan and US Governments in Kabul and signing of the US-Taliban Agreement in Doha
In response to media queries on the the issuance of a Joint Declaration between the Afghan and US Governments in Kabul and signing of the US-Taliban Agreement in Doha, the Official Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said:
"India's consistent policy is to support all opportunities that can bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan; end violence; cut ties with international terrorism; and lead to a lasting political settlement through an Afghan led, Afghan owned and Afghan controlled process.
We note that the entire political spectrum in Afghanistan, including the Government, the democratic polity and civil society, has welcomed the opportunity and hope for peace and stability generated by these agreements.
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| FS Shringla with former Afghan Prez Karzai |
"As a contiguous neighbour, India will continue to extend all support to the Government and people of Afghanistan in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interest of all sections of Afghan society are protected," Mr Kumar said.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday travelled to Kabul on the eve of signing of a landmark peace deal between the US and the Taliban.
Mr Shringla conveyed to the top Afghan leadership India's unstinted support to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
He met President Ashraf Ghani and handed over to him a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
There was also meeting between Shringla and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Vice President-elect Amrullah Saleh, National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Haroon Chakhansuri.
India is firm on its strong commitment for all-round development of Afghanistan.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in tweets: India stands with Afghanistan for strengthening national unity, territorial integrity, democracy, plurality and prosperity in the country and bringing an end to externally sponsored terrorism.
On Shringla's meeting with Ghani, Kumar said the Afghan president appreciated India's consistent support for democracy and constitutional order in Afghanistan.
The US and the Taliban inked a peace deal at a ceremony in Doha on Saturday, Feb 29, 2020.
This pact will provide for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan nearly 18 years after their deployment in the country.
India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
India's Ambassador to Qatar P Kumaran was directed from New Delhi to attend the ceremony where the US and Taliban will strike the peace deal. It is for the first time India is officially attending an event involving the Taliban.
India had sent two former diplomats in "non-official" capacity to a conference on Afghan peace process in Moscow in November 2018.
The conference organised by Russia was attended by a high-level Taliban delegation, representatives of Afghanistan as well as from several other countries, including the US, Pakistan and China.
Major powers such as the US, Russia and Iran have been reaching out to the Taliban as part of efforts to push the stalled Afghan peace process.
India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled.
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