New Delhi: US, India and Afghanistan discussed political, security and economic transition in Afghanistan besides specific cooperation projects in the war-torn country. Dispatch News Desk reported on Tuesday.
The meeting came in the backdrop of the US’ announcement of withdrawing 34,000 American troops from the war-torn country in the next one year.
“Since India, Afghanistan and US share a common vision of a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, this trilateral dialogue provides useful opportunity to state views on broad-based subjects that are critical for transition and transformation that are underway in Afghanistan,” YK Sinha, Additional Secretary (PAI) in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, said. “Coordinated position based on strong conviction is essential to ensure that we are all on the same page with respect to the situation as it unfolds in Afghanistan and the region”, he added.
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin, Sinha and Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, Joint Secretary (Americas) from India and Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake from the US lead their respective delegations.
The first India-US and Afghanistan trilateral was held in the US last September during which the three sides had free flowing and frank discussion on all aspects of the situation in Afghanistan. The latest meeting focussed on the impact of the withdrawl of 34,000 American troops during the next year and future strategy. “In the agenda we have identified for main areas of discussion – political transition, security transition, economic transition and specific cooperation projects,” Sinha said.
The recent meeting hosted in the UK by British Prime Minister David Cameron for presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan is also understood to have been discussed during the meet. The UK meeting was also attended by top spies and military generals from the three countries.
