Pak to skip Delhi Dialogue on Afghanistan; Russia & Iran to attend

India's NSA Ajit Doval will hold the dialogue on Afghanistan in India. Several Central Asian Countries, Russia and Iran, have confirmed their presence in the dialogue.

New Delhi: India will be hosting the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10. Pakistan is likely to miss it while Iran and Russia have confirmed participation at the crucial deliberations to be presided over by NSA Ajit Doval. The participants from other countries are also likely the respective NSAs.

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Sources said – two earlier meetings in this format were held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019. The third meeting in India could not be held earlier because of the pandemic, the source said.

There has been an overwhelming response to India's invitation. Central Asian countries, as well as Russia and Iran, have confirmed participation. For the first time, not just Afghanistan's immediate land neighbours, but all Central Asian countries are participating in this format. 

"The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India's role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan," the source said.

Invitations have been extended to China and Pakistan too, and "formal responses are awaited". "However, Pakistan has indicated through the media that it will not attend," the informed source told this journalist.

The source categorically maintained that – "Pakistan's decision is unfortunate, but not surprising. It reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate." Pakistan has not attended the previous meetings of this format. "Its media comments against India are an unsuccessful attempt to deflect attention from its pernicious role in Afghanistan," the source said.

The high-level participation in next week's meeting hosted by India reflects the widespread and growing concern of regional countries about the situation in Afghanistan. This reflects the "desire" to consult and coordinate with each other. India has an important role to play in this process, the source added.