The third regional security dialogue on Afghanistan was held today in New Delhi in which the participants discussed security and the political situation in Afghanistan, called for collective cooperation against terrorism, and for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

The dialogue was attended by national security advisers/ secretaries of the National Security Councils of India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan and China did not attend the dialogue.

A declaration announced by the Ministry of External Affairs of India said the participants also discussed terrorism threats, radicalization, drug trafficking and the need for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. “The sides paid special attention to the current political situation in Afghanistan and threats arising from terrorism, radicalization and drug trafficking as well as the need for humanitarian assistance.”

The participants condemned terrorist activities and reaffirmed their support for dismantling terrorist infrastructure and countering radicalization. The participants “condemned in the strongest terms all terrorist activities and reaffirmed their firm commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the declaration reads.

The participants also reiterated their support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and emphasized the need for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and non-interference in its internal affairs. According to the declaration, the participants also insisted that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used for sheltering, training or the financing of terrorist acts.

Expressing their concerns about the threat of terrorism, the participants “called for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region,” the declaration said.

The participants also said the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is a need, adding the government should “represent the will of all the people of Afghanistan" to have "representation from all sections of their society, including major ethno-political forces in the country.”

The meeting participants also said the UN has a central role in solving the problems in Afghanistan, and that the UN mission should remain in the country.

The declaration reads that the regional countries have also called on the preservation of human rights. The participants “emphasized the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated,” reads the declaration.

The participants also raised their concerns over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and called for urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

 The regional countries' representatives also reiterated their commitment to providing assistance to Afghanistan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.