Strong convergence on Indian, U.S. positions on Afghanistan, says Jaishankar

New Delhi will not accept outcome decided by force, Minister tells Rajya Sabha.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that India would not accept any outcome in Afghanistan that was decided by force and that there was “strong convergence” on this between India and the United States. Mr. Jaishankar replied to a starred question by Samajwadi Party MP Rewati Raman Singh about the relationship with the U.S. and then a supplementary question posed by nominated MP Swapan Dasgupta about the situation in Afghanistan. Mr. Jaishankar said he had a good discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during his visit to Delhi this week. “We had a very detailed discussion on Afghanistan. I articulated our position at a press conference jointly held with the visiting secretary. We were very clear that there must be negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan. There cannot be a military solution, there cannot be a takeover by use of force. We will work with the international community to ensure that political negotiation for settlement are pursued seriously and we would never accept any outcome which is decided by force. I think there was a very strong convergence in our positions —India and the United States — on this matter,” the Minister said.