External Affairs Minister to brief Parliament floor leaders on Afghan situation

External affairs minister S Jaishankar will brief the floor leaders of various political parties in Parliament on Thursday on the political developments in Afghanistan and the measures taken to ensure safety and evacuation of hundreds of Indians, including officials, stranded in the trouble-torn country.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi is coordinating the whole exercise and invitations are being sent to floor leaders through email. Some of the senior leaders of the opposition parties will also be intimated through phone calls. Jaishankar will be accompanied by senior officials including foreign secretary HV Shringla.

Sharing this information on Twitter, Jaishankar said: “In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM Narendra Modi has instructed that Ministry of External Affairs brief the floor leaders of political parties…”


Joshi said the meeting will take place at 11 am in Parliament House annexe on Thursday. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has expressed the hope that his party will also be invited to the briefing.

India has said that all efforts are being made to ensure the safety of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. Steps are also being taken to protect their places of worship. Hundreds of Indians and many Afghan nationals have been brought to India in special IAF planes since the Taliban took over the country.

India, which is presiding over the UNSC in August, is also safeguarding its geopolitical interests. Equations with Pakistan, China, Russia, among other countries, are also at stake. Two Afghan MPs are among those evacuated from Afghanistan.

Jaishankar is likely to touch upon all these issues during his briefing. Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh, Congress’ LS floor leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal, leader of the opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge will be among those who are expected to attend the meet.