Political instability & prospects of civil war in Afghanistan to figure high on Nov 10 NSA meet in New Del – Economic Times

Measures to address cross-border terror threat & presence of terror groups, spread of extremism & radical ideas from Afghanistan and political instability leading to economic troubles in Afghanistan will dominate the first meeting of regional national security advisers convened by India on November 10.

Besides growing threat from terror groups, a number of Afghanistan's neighbours in Central Asia and Russia are worried over political instability and economic woes within the Taliban-controlled country and they fear civil war and its spill over impact in the region, ET has learnt.

The lack of cohesiveness in the Taliban ranks that could contribute to intra-Afghan conflict has been a matter of concern for Afghanistans neighbours in Central Asia as well as Russia. Terror groups may take advantage of this situation to use Afghanistan as a haven.

The Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan will be chaired by NSA Ajit DovalTwo earlier meetings in this format have been held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019. The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the pandemic.

While NSAs of Russia (Gen Nikolay Patrushev), Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will attend the meet (for first time all Central Asian states & not just Afghanistans immediate neighbours are part of dialogue), Iran will be represented by its NSA Ali Shamkhani. It is not yet clear if China will attend the meeting physically or attend it virtually. Pakistans NSA has ruled out his participation.

Neither India nor Russia is in haste to provide official recognition to the Taliban even if they maintain contacts with the group. India has been categorical on its demand that the Afghan territory should not be used for third-country-sponsored cross-border terror. Tajikistan has been steadfast in its demand for an inclusive regime in Kabul. Iran has suggested polls to determine the next government in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia regretted that the terrorist and drug threat continues to come from Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power.

"I can confirm that the terrorist and drug threats coming from Afghanistans territory, as well as the general situation in these areas in that country, are still a pressing problem for us. I can state with regret that the situation has not changed after the Taliban came to power," she said, adding that terror attacks staged by the Islamic State in Afghan cities were an example of that. Narcotics smuggling will also be on the agenda of the November 10 meet.

Zakharova also referred to the threat of increasing migration from Afghanistan. "Envoys of terrorist organisations, criminal elements, militants and so on may infiltrate into neighbouring countries under the guise of refugees," she said.

See the original post:
Political instability & prospects of civil war in Afghanistan to figure high on Nov 10 NSA meet in New Del - Economic Times