New Delhi: India has maintained for once that there should be a "distinction" between those who govern Afghanistan, the Taliban, and those who are common people in that country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has categorically told his Italian counterpart, Mario Draghi. and European Union leaders that the situation of Afghanistan could not be seen in isolation and that the "failure and inability" to provide good governance must be watched carefully.
"The Prime Minister was quite categorical that the situation of Afghanistan could not be seen in isolation, that the failure and inability to provide good governance, the failure to be able to deal with the situation, as it stands, had also to be a subject of introspection," Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla told reporters in Rome after PM's meetings with Draghi and President of the European Council, Charles Michel; and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
He said, "….let us say, any form of intimidation or threat that would emerge out of Afghanistan, I think, is something that the international community would have to watch out very carefully for."
The Prime Minister also pointed out that the "root causes of the problems in Afghanistan had to be actively looked into, which is essentially, radicalism and extremism, and terrorism," which is a consequence of this had to be very, very carefully examined.
"So I think there was a strong sentiment, which was fully understood both by our partners in the European Union and in Italy," the Foreign Secretary said, adding, both of them reciprocated those sentiments and felt that this is something that "needed to be looked into."
The emphasis indeed has to be on the 'humanitarian situation', but Prime Minister Modi pointed out that "there should be a distinction between those who govern and those who are people in that country and that the people had to be helped."
In this context, the Foreign Secretary said, "We had offered humanitarian assistance, the Prime Minister said, significant assistance, but we needed to get it across to Afghanistan and that is something that we are working on to ensure that there is direct, unimpeded access of that humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan."
The Prime Minister will attend the first in-person post-Covid G-20 Summit in Rome.
Mr Shringla further said, "There is the sense that the relationship with Italy had seen a significant upswing in recent years, the Prime Minister (Modi) said that bilateral relations have seen warmth and vigour, particularly in the areas of investment, trade, and people to people ties.
"Prime Minister Draghi, also very strongly reciprocated that sentiment. And Prime Minister Modi also invited Italian PM and President Charles Michel and Ursula von de Leyen to visit India," the Foreign Secretary said.
