India has urged the world to keep a close watch on Afghanistan and stop terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) from using its land as a base. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish stressed the need for global action against these threats.
Harish shared that India is keeping a sharp eye on Afghanistan’s security situation. He called for united efforts to ensure UN-designated terrorists, including ISIL, Al-Qaeda affiliates, LeT, and JeM, can’t operate from Afghan soil anymore. “The international community must work together to block these groups and their backers,” he said.
He also welcomed the strong global outcry over the horrific Pahalgam terror attack in India, claimed by LeT’s front group, The Resistance Front. This attack killed 26 innocent civilians just because of their faith, highlighting the dangers of such outfits.
Earlier in the meeting on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva pointed out a silver lining: big armed clashes and violence have dropped sharply. But she warned that extremist groups still remain a major headache for the country.
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021 after the US pullout, the UN and most nations, including India, haven’t recognized them. Instead, they’re called the “de facto authorities.” Harish pushed for a smarter way forward. “We need a balanced policy that rewards good steps and discourages bad ones,” he explained. Just punishing won’t cut it—he suggested fresh ideas, like those used in other post-conflict spots, to help Afghans in desperate need.
Sticking to the old ways won’t help Afghanistan or its people, Harish added. India plans to keep talking with all key players. For instance, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has had two chats with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Muttaqi was set to visit New Delhi this month, but UN travel sanctions blocked it.
That said, India hasn’t cut ties completely. Recent visitors included Deputy Minister for Medicine and Food Hamdullah Zahid and a senior Taliban figure on security matters. Harish reaffirmed India’s rock-solid promise to aid Afghans. He’s highlighted shipments of humanitarian help, from food to medical supplies, showing India’s commitment to the Afghan people despite the challenges.
Otunbayeva, joining via video, hopes for better engagement paths that deliver real wins, especially for Afghan women and girls. She described two camps within the Taliban: one more practical, focused on people’s needs, and another pushing a strict “pure Islamic system” that’s cracking down hard. This hardline side has slammed doors on women’s education and jobs, even blocking female quake victims from aid and barring women UN staff from offices.
With such issues, global leaders are questioning how much support to give when leaders hurt their own folks, Otunbayeva noted. As Afghanistan grapples with terrorism, Taliban rule, and humanitarian crises, India’s call for a nuanced approach could shape international efforts to stabilize the region.
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