India will host a high-level regional security dialogue over the developments in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, sources have said. The Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, which was held in September 2018 and December 2019, was not held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting to be held on November 10 will be chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval .
Russia, Iran, and almost all central Asian countries have confirmed their participation at a regional security dialogue on Afghanistan .
China and Pakistan have been invited, but their replies are yet to come. Pakistan has, however, indicated to the media that it won’t attend .
“Pakistan’s decision is unfortunate, but not surprising. It reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate. Pakistan has not attended the previous meetings of this format. Its media comments against India are an unsuccessful attempt to deflect attention from its pernicious role in Afghanistan,” said the source, asking not to be named.
The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan after US troops left the country following a 20-year war against terror has been particularly concerning for India, which has long maintained that Pakistan would likely use Afghanistan for terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
