Jaishankar to cut short US visit as situation deteriorates in Afghanistan

Jaishankar is currently in New York chairing over two events at the UN Security Council under India's Presidency. After chairing the meetings, he was scheduled to visit Mexico, Panama from New York but according to sources, these visits are re-scheduled for later dates apparently due to deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

New Delhi: Amid the tense situation in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar is cutting short his visit to the United States of America. He is currently in New York chairing over two events at the UN Security Council under India's Presidency. After chairing the meetings, he was scheduled to visit Mexico, Panama from New York but according to sources, these visits are re-scheduled for later dates apparently due deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

Jaishankar is due to return to Delhi on Friday to review the situation in Afghanistan and present India's stand on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Later, on August 19, Jaishankar is scheduled to chair the Security Council briefing on “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts".

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister said that New Delhi is very closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan and India's focus is on ensuring the security and safe return of Indian nationals still in the war-torn country.

Addressing a press conference at the UN Security Council stakeout after chairing an open debate on peacekeeping said, "Situation in Afghanistan is really what has been very much the focus of my engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary-General and other colleagues who are here as well as the US Secretary of State". He also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the situation in the war-ravaged nation.

READ:Jaishankar to chair UNSC meet on threats to security caused by terrorist acts

Dr S. Jaishankar arrived in New York on August 16 and on August 18, he chaired the first event an Open Debate on 'Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping.

Meanwhile, the evacuation process of Indian personnel and diplomats from the Indian mission in Kabul has been completed and Jaishankar also said that the safe return of countrymen is India's priority while attending the UNSC meeting in New York.

Apart from that, over the last few days, many Afghan nationals had arrived in India via commercial flights.

After a month-long offensive against the Afghan security forces, Taliban fighters captured Afghanistan on 15 August, following which Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country which has been highly criticised by world leaders.

Moreover, many Afghan Sikhs and Hindus stranded in Kabul currently, are appealing to the Indian government to evacuate them at the earliest as Afghanistan under the Taliban regime has raised concern among them about their safety and security in the near future.