New Delhi: Close on the heels of the Taliban announcing their caretaker government in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday (September 8) sought to up the ante and said the Taliban "must live up to its declarations" and not allow the use of Afghan soil to promote terrorism in any manner.
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Dr Jaishankar said, "The world should not countenance interference by external players, especially those intensifying violence at this difficult time." He said, "Our collective approach should be guided by UNSC resolution 2593," adopted on August 30 on Afghanistan, with India as the chair to the world body.
The External Affairs Minister was addressing a virtual 'Afghanistan conference' jointly convened by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his German counterpart, Heiko Maas. Dr Jaishankar maintained, "Resumption of travel out of Kabul is a priority."
"Use of Afghan soil to promote terrorism in any manner by any country is unacceptable. The Taliban must live up to its declarations to that effect," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Secretary Blinken also said, "The Taliban seek international legitimacy. Any legitimacy — any support — will have to be earned."
Taliban on Tuesday announced the formation of a caretaker government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and said Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund would head it as interim prime minister.
At another platform, in his remarks at the annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy, Dr Jaishankar said, from the Romanian perspective, there is definitely a likelihood that India will play a "more visible role in global politics in the days to come."
"India's economic weight has already grown substantially, as indeed has its political influence. We are today members of the G20. Currently, we are a non-permanent member of the Security Council, of the EAS, of BRICS, of SCO, QUAD, SAARC, BIMSTEC and IORA," he said.
