Explained: why is India hosting talks on Afghanistan and who is attending it

India will be hosting the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’ on November 10 and 11. The meeting will be chaired by NSA Ajit Doval and his counterparts from other countries in the region have been invited to attend it.

The talks are aimed at discussing the security concerns posed by Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Also watch: Afghan crisis: NSA Doval, Russian security official hold talks to mitigate threat

Invitations were sent to Afghanistan’s neighbours such as Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and other key players including Russia, and China.

Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf, however, will not be attending the deliberations. He accused India of playing a negative role in Afghanistan and said that ‘spoiler can’t be peacekeeper’.

India has termed Pakistan’s decision unfortunate but added that it was not surprising as it reflects its mindset of viewing Pakistan as its protectorate.

Also watch: Indian officials meet Taliban leaders on sidelines of Moscow Format talks

According to reports, Russia, Iran and almost all central Asian countries have accepted the invitation and a formal response is awaited from China.

India’s decision to hold the talks is being seen by analysts as a move to get themselves a seat at the table when it comes to future of Afghanistan.

Till the fall of Kabul, India had declined to sit down with the Taliban as part of the peace negotiations of which US and Pakistan were also part.

After the Taliban takeover on August 15, India’s envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal met Taliban’s top leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai. Indian officials also came face to face with the Taliban delegation at the Moscow format talks on Afghanistan hosted by Russia recently.

The meeting is also a step towards engaging with the world to protect India’s security interests.

India has consistently maintained in its meeting with Taliban and at global platforms that the Afghan soil should not be used to create a safe haven for terror activities.