UNSC Arria Formula Meeting

PREVENTING ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND EXPLORING PROSPECTS FOR RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

(17.11.2022; 1000 hrs. EST)

Mr. Chair,

    I thank the briefers for their remarks today.  

2.     We thank the Russian delegation for calling for this Arria meeting today focusing on the economic challenges facing the people of Afghanistan.

3.    India has direct stakes in ensuring the return of peace and stability to the country, given our position as a contiguous neighbour and long-standing partner of Afghanistan, as well as our strong historical and civilizational linkages to the Afghan people. 

4.    It may be noted that prior to the takeover by the Taliban, India had been implementing projects and programmes with a commitment of over 3 billion US dollars aimed towards development, reconstruction, and capacity building in Afghanistan. Our development partnership encompassed people-centric projects in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan and were aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation. We also operationalized air freight corridors and the Chabahar Port to enhance regional connectivity to Afghanistan. 

5.    However, the change in the political situation has resulted in slowing down of our projects for different reasons.

6.    Nevertheless, India’s unwavering commitment towards helping the people of Afghanistan remains unchanged. 

7.    India is deeply concerned at the unfolding humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. In response to the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people and in response to the urgent appeals made by the United Nations, India has dispatched several shipments of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. These include:

i.    40,000 MTs of wheat, 

ii.    about 50 tons of medical aid consisting of essential lifesaving medicines, anti-TB medicines, 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine, medical/surgical items like Pediatric Stethoscope, Sphygmomanometer mobile type with pediatric BP cuff, infusion pump, drip chamber set, electro cautery, nylon sutures etc.; and, 

iii.    28 tons of other disaster relief material. 

8.    These aid consignments were handed over to the Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and other UN specialized agencies including WFP and UNOCHA. In order to closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people, an Indian technical team has also been deployed at our Embassy in Kabul.

9.    Our approach to Afghanistan, as always, will be guided by our historical friendship and our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan. It was in this regard that we supported and welcomed the Security Council resolution 2615 (2021) which provided a humanitarian carve-out from the 1988 sanctions regime. 

10.    At the same time, it is also important to recognize that the international community continues to have some concerns regarding the situation in Afghanistan. India’s main priorities in Afghanistan include providing immediate humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, formation of a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking and preserving the rights of women, children, and minorities. These benchmarks were also set forth by the UNSC Resolution 2593 which guides the international community’s approach towards Afghanistan.

11.    India is closely monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan and is actively engaged with the international community on issues related to Afghanistan.  In the recent past, terrorist attacks have targeted public spaces like places of worship and educational institutes, especially of minorities. This is a concerning trend and India strongly condemns the targeting of innocent civilians. The attack at the diplomatic premises of the Russian Federation is highly condemnable. 

12.    The collective approach of the international community has been articulated by the Security Council Resolution 2593. It unequivocally demands that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training, planning, or financing terrorist acts, specifically terrorist individuals and entities proscribed by the UN Security Council, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. 

13.    Linked to the issue of terrorism is the menace of drug trafficking. We have recently seized big shipments of drugs at our ports and in the high seas off our coasts. It is important for strengthening international cooperation to disrupt and dismantle these trafficking networks.

14.    On the political front, India continues to call for an inclusive dispensation in Afghanistan which represents all sections of the Afghan society. A broad-based, inclusive, and representative formation is necessary for long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan, and in turn, for economic recovery and development.

15.    Peace and security in Afghanistan are critical imperatives that all of us need to collectively strive for. India will continue to play its role in pursuit of this objective. The interests of the Afghan people will always continue to be at the heart of our efforts in Afghanistan.

I thank you.

***