Permanent Mission of India
New York
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UN Security Council Briefing on Afghanistan
 

(chaired by Permanent Representative of the USA, Ambassador Linda Thomas- Greenfield)
 

Statement by Ambassador P. Harish, Permanent Representative
12 December 2024

Madam President,

I thank you for convening this very important meeting. We appreciate the briefing by SRSG Otunbayeva and thank her for updating the Council on the recent developments. The views and insights of Ambassador Andrés Montalvo Sosa of Ecuador, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and the civil society briefer were also helpful.

India has historical and civilizational relationship with the people of Afghanistan. As its contiguous neighbour, these historical people to people exchanges have forged unbreakable bonds of a special relationship. This is the basis of our contemporary engagement with Afghanistan.

Madam President,

India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and has been actively engaged in regional and international efforts to maintain stability and peace in Afghanistan. Our broad approach remains to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the people of Afghanistan and to create an international consensus under the UN framework to resolve various issues between the de facto authorities in Afghanistan and the international community. Our participation in the UN meetings in Doha, Moscow Format and other fora are a reflection of our efforts to secure peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. India has also joined the two UNAMA Working Groups on counter-narcotics and enabling private sector in Afghanistan.

This Council through its resolution 2593 (2021) had demanded that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country and had reiterated the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan. This continues to guide International community’s approach to combat this menace. The resolution’s call on all donors and international humanitarian actors to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan should continue to remain a shared global priority.

India has been working with various UN Agencies for providing assistance to the Afghan people in areas of health, food security, education, counter narcotics, sports and capacity building. Since 2001, India has been committed towards rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan. Our development partnership includes more than 500 projects spread across all provinces in Afghanistan. Since August 2021, India has delivered 27 tons of relief material, 50,000 MT of wheat, 40,000 litres of pesticides and more than 300 tons of medicines and medical accessories.

India has continued scholarship schemes for Afghan students and since 2023, has granted admissions to 2000 Afghan students including approx. 600 girls in the online mode. India has also provided winter clothing, stationary items and toys for primary students of schools in Kabul

India has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan to provide assistance for the welfare of Afghan drug user population, especially women. Under this partnership, India has, since 2022, supplied 11,000 units of hygiene kits, baby food, blankets, clothing, medical aid and other miscellaneous items to UNODC, Kabul.

We are also developing Chabahar port in order to provide connectivity to Afghanistan and to ensure its reconstruction and development.

In conclusion, Madam President, let me reaffirm India’s steadfast commitment to the friendly people of Afghanistan. India looks forward to continue working closely with all stakeholders and will leave no stone unturned in the global community’s efforts towards supporting the Afghan society in their quest for peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Thank you, Madam President. 

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