In a crucial statement a day before reaching Pakistan, the US Deputy Secretary of State said, "No country is in a rush to recognize or give legitimacy to the Taliban".
New Delhi: In a strong testimony to enhanced ties, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday, Oct 6, held a series of key meetings with Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla and NSA Ajit Doval, and asserted that Washington firmly stands for India’s 'national security'.
"The Deputy Secretary assured the Foreign Secretary of the United States’ ongoing commitment to India’s national security," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
She also said that India and the US have “one mind and one approach” on developments in Afghanistan.
The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Secretary also reviewed pressing regional and global security issues,
including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and China.
The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Secretary also discussed ongoing efforts to return Myanmar to a path to
democracy.
"The two expressed their mutual commitment to upholding democracy and human rights and agreed on
the importance of continued close cooperation on shared global challenges," Ned Price said.
They discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan issues during their meeting.
There was a lot of meeting of minds on Afghanistan between the two sides.:
"They discussed issues of regional interest, especially the evolving situation in Afghanistan, as well as
developments at the UN. Reiterated commitment for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,
including through continued cooperation under the Quad," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said - "Deputy Secretary Sherman expressed the
United States’ gratitude for Prime Minister Modi’s announcement that India, which is the world’s
largest vaccine producer, would soon resume exports of COVID-19 vaccines".
Noting that the US appreciates India's concerns over spread of terrorism from Afghanistan,
she told journalists that Washington is putting together a robust programme for "over-the-horizon"
capability for Afghanistan but did not elaborate on it.
She also said - "Taliban must act, and not just speak".
According to media reports, the US Deputy Secretary of State
also hoped that the US and India will be able to resolve the differences over India getting a batch of
S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia.
Sherman said any decision on possible sanctions on the S-400 deal will be made by President Joe Biden
and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary has said on Tuesday that the first batch of S-400 missile
defence system will arrive in India by this year.
“We have been quite public about any country that decides to use the S-400. We think that is dangerous and
not in anybody’s security interest. That said, we have a strong partnership with India,” Sherman underlined.
ends
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