New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that India has offered the supply of 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan and called on the RIC countries to work together to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the Afghan people “without hindrance and without politicization”.
The External Affairs Minister’s remarks come as Pakistan has blocked the transit of trucks carrying 50,000 MT of wheat and medicines from India to Afghanistan, and Islamabad agreed to allow the trucks to pass through only after top officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan interceded personally with the Pakistan Prime Minister, in view of the looming humanitarian crisis facing the Afghan people. Pakistan PM Imran Khan said he would allow the Indian consignment to pass through "on exceptional basis".
In his address at the 18th meeting of the Russia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministers meeting, Jaishankar also said that RIC countries need to coordinate their respective approaches on the threats of terrorism, radicalization, and drug trafficking.
This was also in apparent reference to China siding with Pakistan in placing blocks and holds on requests by India to designate Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN Security Council.
He also reiterated India’s proposal of ‘One Earth, One Health’, that PM Modi had outlined at the G20 summit last month, and for Reformed Multilateralism.
On Afghanistan, he said that India, as a contiguous neighbour and long-standing partner of that country, is concerned about the recent developments there, especially the suffering of the Afghan people.
“India supports an inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan as also other provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2593", he said, referring to the resolution which was adopted on August 30 under India's presidency.
“In line with our commitment to the well-being of Afghan people, we have offered supply of 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan to address the drought situation. RIC countries need to work together to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the Afghan people without hindrance and without politicization. It is necessary for the RIC countries to coordinate respective approaches on the threats of terrorism, radicalization, drug trafficking etc.”
Jaishankar said the Covid pandemic has highlighted the need for ‘One Earth One Health’. “That means a timely, transparent, effective and non-discriminatory international response to global health challenges including pandemics, with equitable and affordable access to medicines and critical health supplies.”
He said that India, since joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January, has been actively contributing to finding mutually acceptable solutions to international and regional issues. “We believe that a multi-polar and re-balanced world based on sovereign equality of nations and respect for international law and contemporary realities requires Reformed Multilateralism.”
He reaffirmed India’s continued commitment to foster closer dialogue and cooperation among the RIC – the three largest nations in the Eurasian region. “I believe that our cooperation in areas like trade, investment, healthcare, education, science & technology and politics etc could significantly contribute to global growth, peace and stability. This would be in line with our common ethos of recognizing the "World as a Family”. Our approach to global development should be human-centric and not leave anyone behind."
Friday's meeting is being held under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. India took over the chairmanship of the RIC after the last meeting of RIC Foreign Ministers in Moscow in September 2020.
Following the meeting, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will pass on the chairmanship of the RIC to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China for the next one year.
UNI/RN