Page 8 - The Indian EYE 061022

NATION JUNE 10, 2022 | The Indian Eye 8

India back in Kabul? MEA delegation holds

talks with Taliban over humanitarian aid

India has historical and civilizational ties with the Afghan people and these longstanding

linkages will continue to guide our approach: Ministry

OUR BUREAU meet senior members of the Taliban
and representatives of international
Kabul/New Delhi
organizations who are involved in the
n a pathbreaking development, a delivery of humanitarian assistance.
multi-member Indian team met Bagchi also answered queries re-
Isenior members of the Taliban in lated to the re-opening of the Indian
Kabul on Thursday. An Indian del- Embassy in Afghanistan. “Post-Au-
egation led by MEA Joint Secretary gust 15 last year, in the light of the
JP Singh is on a visit to the capital of deteriorating security situation in
Afghanistan to oversee the delivery Afghanistan, it was decided to bring
operations of our humanitarian assis- back all India-based personnel and
tance to the country. Besides meeting India-based officials. But local staff
the Taliban leadership, they also vis- have continued to function and en-
ited Indian projects including the In- An Indian delegation led by MEA Joint Secretary (PAI), JP Singh in Kabul meets senior sure proper maintenance and proper
dira Gandhi Institute of Child Health upkeep of the premises,” he said.
(IGICH) in Kabul. Taliban leadership (ANI Photo) India announced earlier in the
The IGICH is the main hospital day that it has sent a team to Kabul
in Afghanistan, set up with Indian as- to oversee the delivery operations of
sistance in the ‘70s that caters to the India’s humanitarian assistance to
well-being of children. Afghanistan.
An MEA statement earlier today The statement said that in re-
said the India team will meet Taliban sponse to the humanitarian needs of
leadership and representatives of the the Afghan people, India has decid-
International Organizations involved ed to extend humanitarian assistance
in the distribution of humanitarian to the Afghan people. It said that in
assistance. “India has historical and this endeavor, India has already dis-
civilizational ties with the Afghan patched several shipments of human-
people and these longstanding link- itarian assistance consisting of 20,000
ages will continue to guide our ap- MTs of wheat, 13 tons of medicines,
proach,” the MEA added. 500,000 doses of COVID Vaccine
A Taliban spokesperson on Twit- and winter clothing.
ter said the Indian team met with “In continuation with our devel-
leaders of the Islamic group and opmental partnership with Afghan
discussed bilateral trade and human- The Indian delegation visits an Indian educational project (ANI) brethren, we have gifted one million
itarian assistance. “Today, Maulvi doses of India-made COVAXIN to
Amir Khan Mottaki, Minister of For- diplomatic relations between Af- to Kabul relates to the delivery oper- Iran to administer to Afghan refu-
eign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate ghanistan and India, bilateral trade ations of its humanitarian assistance gees in Iran. We have also assisted
of Afghanistan, met with GP Singh, and humanitarian assistance were to Afghanistan. Addressing a regular UNICEF by supplying almost 60
Joint Secretary, Ministry of External discussed,” Taliban spokesperson media briefing here, Ministry of Ex- million doses of polio vaccine and
Affairs of India and his accompany- Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on Twitter. ternal Affairs spokesperson Arin- two tons of essential medicines,” the
ing delegation. During the meeting, India said that the visit of its team dam Bagchi said the Indian team will MEA statement said.

Pak lawmaker raises red flag over TPP

prominent Pakistani lawmaker has raised several thousand, according to the report. proscribed terror outfit TTP.
concern about the regrouping of Tehrik-i-Tal- “Ex FATA is being handed over to Taliban. Jirga’s role is “very important” in view of tribal
A iban Pakistan (TTP) amid the ongoing ne- Their fighters are regrouping, traders are being ex- traditions that are respected by both sides, former
gotiations between the Shehbaz Sharif government torted and killings have increased. Their convicted governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukatullah
and the banned outfit. This comes as a recent UN commanders get Presidential pardons. Jirgas are Khan told Dawn. “We are hopeful our efforts will
Security Council report warned that TTP poses a talking to TTP, even about undoing FATA merger. produce results,” he said.
threat to Pakistan as it is focused on a long-term Parliament bypassed completely,” Mohsin Dawar, a Khan earlier told The News International that
campaign against the Pakistani state with its several Member of the National Assembly said in a tweet. nothing had been agreed with the Taliban, saying he
thousand fighters in Afghanistan. TTP constitutes Against the backdrop of the report, a 50-mem- would first meet with leaders of the Pakistani Taliban.
the largest component of foreign terrorist fighters ber jirga of notable tribal leaders arrived in Kabul He said they would prefer the Taliban to lay down
in Afghanistan, with their number estimated to be today for a peace effort between Pakistan and the arms, return home and live peacefully in Pakistan.

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