Russia tweaks some part of NSA's Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan

Moscow: After a joint statement following the Delhi Declaration was signed by eight nations after the NSA's meeting on Afghanistan, Russia has issued another statement with a few tweaks. NSAs of Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan had participated in the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue.

India had expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and stated that assistance should be provided in an "unimpeded, direct and assured manner".

The most notable difference in the Russian statement was the omission of commitment to "ensure that Afghanistan would never become a safe haven for global terrorism". The Delhi Declaration had condemned all terrorist activities and reaffirmed commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. This included financing, dismantling infrastructure, and countering radicalisation. Russia included this part in their statement, reported The Indian Express.

While the Delhi Declaration emphasised ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children, and minority communities are not violated. The Russian statement omitted the terms "fundamental" and "not violated".

Russia also excluded the call for collective cooperation against the menace of radicalization, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan. It also said that the UN presence in the country must be "maintained" instead of "preserved". Both statements said that the UN has a central role to play in Afghanistan.

The Delhi Declaration said that the next meeting will be held in 2022, and Russia did not commit to a similar timeframe. It stated that the participating nations agreed to continue interaction on the Afghan issues "within this format", reported The Indian Express.

The meeting in Delhi was chaired by Ajit Doval, and Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev was in attendance. Russia issued the new statement with at least five differences on Wednesday. It is anticipated that Russia may attend the Troika plus meeting in Islamabad with the Taliban along with Pakistan, China, and the Us on Thursday.