To ensure 'durable peace' in Afghanistan peace in and around the country essential: Jaishankar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday emphasised that to ensure permanent peace in Afghanistan there’s a need for “double peace” — peace within Afghanistan as well as its neighbouring areas — and stressed the importance of negotiating in good faith to reach a political solution.

“For a durable peace in Afghanistan, what we need is a genuine ‘double peace’, that is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan,” Jaishankar said at the Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process conference in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. “It requires harmonising the interests of all, both within and around that country,” he said in a subtle message to Pakistan.

Jaishankar noted that there has been an escalation in targeted killings of civil society members in Afghanistan over the last few months, adding that 2020 marked a 45% increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan over 2019.


He urged the conference members to press for an immediate reduction in violence, leading to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

“India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including intra-Afghan negotiations,” he said. “India welcomes any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.”

The minister said India appreciated international recognition of the foundational principles of peace negotiations in the country and supported a regional process to be convened under the United Nations.