Trilateral meeting to discuss Afghanistan situation

India, the US and Afghanistan will discuss the situation in the war-torn South Asian nation at a trilateral meeting to be held later this month.

"India, as an immediate neigbhour of Afghanistan, is a stakeholder in peace and stability in that country," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here on Thursday.

Stating that the US was among the leading countries of the world working for the same objective, he said: "Therefore, it is natural that we consult each other and also Afghanistan on the current situation as well as the continued support that Afghanistan requires from the international community to address various challenges as it undergoes its political, economic and security transitions."

Following the Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue held here on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry, at a joint press interaction, announced the holding of this trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session later this month.

"To reaffirm our mutual roles as central players on behalf of security and progress in the region, we will restart trilateral talks between the United States, India and Afghanistan at the United Nations General Assembly next month," he said.

"Doing so is going to enable us to determine how best to build on the past gains of securing villages, empowering women, educating students and promoting good governance across Afghanistan."

Kerry thanked India "for the important contribution that it has been making to the efforts in Afghanistan".

The trilateral dialogue was earlier held in 2012 and 2013 at the joint secretary-level.

--IANS

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