Blinken holds talks with NSA Ajit Doval; meets civil society representatives

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi today and discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues including the security situation in Afghanistan.

New Delhi:US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on a range of bilateral and regional issues including the security situation in Afghanistan.

Blinken arrived here on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit with an extensive agenda featuring the rapidly evolving security situation in Afghanistan, boosting Indo-Pacific engagement and ways to enhance COVID-19 response efforts among others.

It is Blinken's first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the third by a high-ranking Biden administration official after it came to power in January.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India in March while US Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry travelled to New Delhi in April. No official details are available on Blinken's meeting with Doval. However, it is learnt that ways to expand bilateral ties and the situation in Afghanistan figured in the talks.

Read:Jaishankar, Blinken discuss strengthening Quad, countering terrorism

Blinken began his engagements in India in the morning with a meeting with a number of civil society leaders. Following the meeting, Blinken said on Twitter that the US and India share a commitment to democratic values and it is part of the bedrock of the relationship and reflective of India's pluralistic society.

"I was pleased to meet civil society leaders today. The US and India share a commitment to democratic values; this is part of the bedrock of our relationship and reflective of India's pluralistic society and history of harmony. Civil society helps advance these values," he said.

PTI