While expressing concern over the “grave humanitarian crisis” unfolding in Afghanistan, India yet again voiced its apprehension about the security situation as it said Afghan territory should not be used by Pakistan-based terror groups to target any country in the neighbourhood.
Speaking at a UNHRC session on human rights concerns in Afghanistan, the government said stability in the country is linked to peace and security of the region and that India, with its millennia old friendship with Afghanistan, stood ready to assist its Afghan friends in fulfilling their aspirations. India also called for unhindered access to those in need of assistance in Afghanistan.
“We hope the situation in Afghanistan does not pose a challenge to its neighbours and its territory is not used by terrorist groups such as Lashkare-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) , to threaten any other country,” said the government in a statement.
Without naming the Taliban, or mentioning any specific atrocity committed by the group, India also said everyone was concerned about the increasing violations of fundamental rights of Afghan citizens who were worried about whether their right to live with dignity would be respected.
“We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation in Afghanistan and we continue to call upon parties concerned to maintain law and order, ensure the safety and security of all Afghan nationals, UN personnel and diplomatic staff members, and observe human rights and international humanitarian law in all circumstances in Afghanistan,” said the government, adding that while the security situation remained precarious, a grave humanitarian crisis was unfolding.
India said thousands of people who had been internally displaced were facing acute shortage of food, medical care and shelter and that the basic rights of civilians, children and women, including freedom of speech and opinion, access to education and medical care had been “drastically” hampered.
“We call upon all parties concerned to allow unhindered access to international assistance for all those who are in the need of it,” said the government, while recalling that India’s development projects, mostly in critical areas like electricity and water supply, are located in every one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan
