The Taliban government welcomes the first India-Central Asia NSA meeting.

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has welcomed the India-Central Asia NSA level meeting aimed at improving regional security coordination, as well as the meeting’s communique expressing support for a stable, peaceful, integrated, and secure Afghanistan. The Taliban government stated that it is committed to not allowing anyone to pose a threat to the region or the world from Afghan soil, or to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. The Taliban even supported the idea of incorporating Chabahar Port into the North-South International Transport Corridor. “We stand ready to provide all necessary protection and facilities in this regard,” the Taliban government said in a statement expressing support for India’s efforts.
“… We hope that Afghanistan will be invited to participate in the second meeting of the National Security Advisers/Secretaries of the Security Council of India and Central Asia, which will be held in Kazakhstan in May 2023, where the presence of Taliban representatives will help establish cooperation and confidence in security, prevention of human and drug trafficking, delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan, and especially in the implementation of basic human rights.

“Reducing terrorism and terrorist financing in Afghanistan, as well as using trade and connectivity routes through Iran, are critical to regional security,” said On Tuesday, India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, presided over the first India-Central Asia meeting of NSAs and Secretaries of Security Councils in Delhi. The day-long meeting was the result of the India-Central Asia virtual summit held in January of this year, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and agreed to have security chiefs meet on a regular basis to discuss India’s “extended neighbourhood.”

“The [Security Advisors] discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the security and stability of the region, reiterating strong support for a peaceful, stable, and secure Afghanistan, emphasising respect for its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and urging non-interference in its internal affairs,” according to a joint communique issued at the end of the meeting.