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Talking exclusively to ET online on Tuesday, Atmar said, “China is working closely with us on the peace process and they are supporting Afghanistan’s position on the political settlement.”
On March 18, Russia hosted a meeting of representatives of the “troika” — Russia, China, the United States, and Pakistan — on a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan. “In Moscow, they (China) were part of the statement, which was in support of the peace process. Of course, we are expecting the whole of the region to do more,” Atmar added.
Atmar, who held talks with India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval, said national, regional, and international consensus is required for lasting peace in Afghanistan, and India is part of the process. “As a legitimate partner, we are seeking a greater role for India.” Afghanistan would continue to work with India on trade and economic cooperation regardless of the peace process, he added.
The Afghan foreign minister, who is visiting India on Jaishankar’s invitation, will be discussing bilateral relations; strengthening of regional and international consensus on the Afghan peace process; and enhancing cooperation in security, economic, political, and cultural areas, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement.
Interacting with a group of journalists, Atmar thanked India for providing Covid-19 vaccines when it “needed them the most”.
Responding to a question on cooperation with China on technology and defence ties, he said, “We haven’t had a match of cooperation on that (defence and technology) as yet, but on the economic aspect, we certainly want to do much more.”
With the May deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan fast approaching, strategic affairs experts believe China wants Afghanistan to be stable, so that it can expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) there. “China would be happy to see the departure of US troops, but it also has a strong interest in the modicum of stability that those US troops provide in Afghanistan. Beijing wants Afghanistan to be more stable, so that it can expand its Belt and Road Initiative in the country,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director and senior associate for south Asia at Wilson Center in Washington told ET Online. “The Chinese are not major economic players in Afghanistan, as the war has obliged them to put their investment plans on hold.”
Atmar also said the Afghanistan is issuing digital identity cards in the country, with faith and ethnicity being digitally recorded.
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