India is monitoring the developments in Afghanistan with “understandable” concern, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. He made the remarks while addressing the United Nations High-Level meeting on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan. Given the grave emerging situation in the neighbouring country, India was willing to stand by the Afghan people just as it had done in the past, the external affairs minister said.
After the Taliban blitz over Afghanistan, citizens have been facing a dire threat to their human rights, and essential services in the country – healthcare, medical aid, banking – are facing disruptions. “Today, I wish to underline that in the face of a grave emerging situation, India is willing to stand by the Afghan people, just as in the past. To ensure that this happened speedily and effectively, we believe that the international community must come together to create the best possible enabling environment,” he said. The EAM went on to add that Afghanistan is passing through a critical and challenging phase. Afghans are facing the imminent threat of rising poverty levels and the same could have a catastrophic effect on stability in the region, S Jaishankar said. However, among the challenges that the current situation posed was that of efficient logistics, he added. “It is therefore essential that humanitarian assistance providers are accorded unimpeded, unrestricted and direct access to Afghanistan. Once relief materials reach that country, the world will naturally expect a non-discriminatory distribution of humanitarian assistance across all sections of the Afghan society. Only the United Nations has the capacity to monitor such endeavours and reassure donors,” he said.
