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India, demonstrating its commitment to international and regional cooperation, participated in a significant regional conference on Afghanistan, convened by the Taliban government in Kabul on Monday. This meeting, a precursor to the United Nations’ gathering in Doha next month, marks a notable step in regional diplomacy.

Rambabu Chellappa, the head of India’s technical team in Kabul, represented the country. Emphasising New Delhi’s role in fostering regional stability, he said, “India actively takes part in international and regional initiatives regarding Afghanistan, and supports every effort leading to the stability and the development of Afghanistan.”

The conference, dubbed Afghanistan’s ‘Regional Cooperation Initiative’, witnessed the presence of special envoys and diplomats from Russia, China, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, chaired the session, emphasising Afghanistan’s desire for stability and development. He asserted, “Afghanistan is a country that has gone through long-imposed conflicts and has achieved peace, security and stability. It does not need another UN special representative.”

Muttaqi also highlighted Afghanistan’s recent strides under Taliban governance, including organising security forces, neutralising threats, banning poppy cultivation and initiating major development projects.

He urged participants to accurately represent Afghanistan’s current realities at the upcoming Doha meeting, emphasising the importance of engagement and cooperation based on mutual interests.

“Seizing this opportunity, I request all gathered here to portray ground realities of today’s Afghanistan in the upcoming Doha meeting to the distant sides, so that they can enter into constructive engagement and cooperation with a realistic, sensible, and acceptable approach for Afghanistan,” Muttaqi said.

“It is noteworthy that Afghanistan does not seek confrontation and controversy with any sideâ€æ..rather always stresses positive engagement. Therefore, our choices should be respected. Instead of proposing governance models and pointing fingers at the system, it is better to engage in mutual interests,” he added.

The meeting focused on enhancing regional cooperation, including economic development and addressing regional threats. Muttaqi underlined the Taliban’s respect for others’ interests and governance models, expecting similar respect for Afghanistan’s choices. The meeting concluded with a call for regional consensus and thematic agreements serving mutual interests.

“Afghanistan has been able to organise its governance structure and its triple security forces, neutralise national and regional threats by antagonist groups, ban poppy cultivation, mobilise the countries’ economic engine, kick-off major development projects, and take pragmatic steps toward regional trade and transit prosperity,” Muttaqi said.

The conference represents a significant moment for regional diplomacy, with India playing a pivotal role in the dialogue on Afghanistan’s future. The upcoming UN-convened meeting in Doha will further build upon these discussions, shaping the international community’s approach to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.