New Delhi: India on Thursday, June 24, reiterated that it stands firm on the ‘peace initiatives’ in Afghanistan and asserted that while it has brought in developments, health clinics, and roads in that country, the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan.
“India has brought electricity, dams, schools, health clinics, roads, and community projects to Afghanistan.
And the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan,” MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told the weekly virtual media briefing.
He said India supports all peace initiatives in Afghanistan and “has a long term commitment towards development and reconstruction of Afghanistan”.
“In this context, we remain in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries”.
On Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recently making a statement on India’s role in Afghanistan, MEA spokesman said, “Regarding the comments on India’s role in Afghanistan by Pakistan foreign minister, we firmly believe that it is for the Afghan people to decide their partners and the size of the partnership”.
Mr. Bagchi further said, “I would also draw our attention to the recent statement made by External Affairs Minister (Dr. S Jaishankar) at the UNSC debate, which lays out concern at the upsurge of violence and our vision for the future”.
China violated the 1993, 1996 agreements:
The MEA spokesman taking questions on China accused it of violating the peace tacts of 1993 and 1996 that mandate that the two countries shall strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control.
“It is well recognized that it has been the Chinese actions over the last year, including amassing of a large number of troops close to border areas in the Western Sector, and trying to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC, which have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility in the border areas,” he said.
These acts violate “our bilateral agreements, including the 1993 and 1996 agreements” that mandate that the two sides shall strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and that two sides will keep their military forces in the areas along the Line of Actual Control to a “minimum level”, the spokesman asserted.
To a question on the next round of border meetings between India and China, he said, “As regards the WMCC meeting, I don’t have any update to share for the moment. We will certainly keep you informed as and when there are further developments”.
Answering questions on CoWin App, he said, “….during his intervention at the recent G-7 meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had offered to share India’s experience and expertise in the successful use of open-source digital tools in contact tracing and vaccine management. In pursuance of this, the National Health Authority proposes to organize an event with partner countries across the world to share details of the indigenously developed CoWin App”.
This App has been at the center of India’s vaccination drive. “We will provide further updates once the details of the event have been firmed up,” he added.
