Indian prime minister Narendra Modi says Afghanistan plays an important role in promoting peace and stability across Eurasia, and that peace in Afghanistan is closely linked to regional peace and stability.
Modi made the remarks on Tuesday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek. He said India would continue its development and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
He added that India had previously contributed to development projects and humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and would continue working to sustain these efforts.
In his remarks, the Indian prime minister also stressed the need to combat terrorism, saying that terrorism should not become a “strategic tool” for any country.
Modi said the fight against terrorism should not be limited to short-term responses. Instead, the entire “ecosystem” of terrorism including terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalization, and safe havens must be dismantled.
He also described drug trafficking as a serious threat to the younger generation and called for stronger intelligence cooperation among countries in the region.
Afghanistan has been associated with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as an observer member since 2012. However, following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan’s status within the organisation has effectively been suspended.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
