External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday warned that the resurgence of Taliban being witnessed in Afghanistan post the United States’ announcement of the end of the combat mission in the Central Asian country will likely have implications for the rest of the region.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the BRICS Academic Forum, Jaishankar said if the international community fails to tackle the extremism being witnessed in Afghanistan today, it will have consequences not just for the neighbouring countries but for the entire region and beyond.
“The transition in Afghanistan that we are seeing today and warfare that’s being forced upon its people, have sharpened the challenge of terrorism. Left unattended, its edge will be deeply felt not just in Afghanistan neighbourhoods but beyond,” Jaishankar said at the BRICS’ session.
He noted that for any group to gain legitimacy, it cannot resort to mass brutality upon the country’s citizens.
“Legitimacy in the present day cannot be derived from mass brutality or covert agendas. Representation of peace and stability are inextricably linked,” the EAM stated.
Jaishankar’s remarks came as the Afghan Army Tuesday asked residents of a besieged city to evacuate as it readied to launch a major offensive against the Taliban following heavy fighting over the past three days.
Taliban have been ravaging Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand province, in its bid to capture provincial capital cities. According to the United Nations, around 40 civilians have died in the Lashkar Gah fighting in the last 24 hours.
Ever since the US-led foreign forces started the last phase of their withdrawal in early May, the Taliban have been advancing in the country and have managed to take under control much of rural Afghanistan. However, their bid to capture provincial capitals is witnessing stiffer resistance.
Meanwhile, speaking at the forum, Jaishankar also spoke on the pandemic as well as BRICS. Here is what the Indian foreign minister said during his virtual address:
– Pandemic has rudely reminded us that institutions built to tackle problems of the 1940s desperately need to be upgraded. The expansion of permanent membership of the Security Council (UNSC) is a necessary ingredient, but not sufficient. More action is required to fill the gaps.
– India’s presidency of BRICS is underpinned by four pillars of reforms – multilateral system, counter-terrorism cooperation, technological and digital solution for sustainable development goals, and people-to-people cooperation.
