Rajnath Singh to spell out BJP's Afghanistan policy

WASHINGTON: BJP president Rajnath Singh will directly convey to the US lawmakers, think tanks and policy makers his party's policy on Afghanistan at the Capitol Hill later this month.


Singh, who is slated to be in Washington from July 22-25, would be delivering key note address on "India, Afghanistan and Regional Security" at a conference on Afghanistan on July 23 organised by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS USA) and the United States India Political Action Committee.

The conference at the historic Rayburn House Building of the US Capitol, among others would also be addressed by the former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal; the former head of Afghan intelligence Hamrullah Saleh; and Ajit Doval, the former director of Intelligence Bureau.

Organisers of the conference have also roped in Mehran Baloch, a senior Baloch leader and Senge Serin, president of the Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies, to give their perspective on Afghanistan and the recent developments.

"The conference aims to engage communities to discuss factors affecting security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the surrounding region," FIIDS USA said in a statement.

"The sessions will focus on critical dimensions of a balanced and unified strategy that can lead to Afghanistan's stable and secure development," it added.

Michael O'Hanlon, director of Research at the Brookings Institute and Lisa Curtis, research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, would also be addressing the conference.