Afghan foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit on Monday. The move comes days ahead of a crucial regional meeting on Afghanistan that is expected to be attended by the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan.
“The purpose of Mr. Atmar and his accompanying delegation’s visit to India is to discuss bilateral relations, strengthen regional and international consensus on the Afghan peace process, and enhance cooperation,” declared a press release from the Afghan Foreign Ministry.
Upon his arrival, Atmar held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“Welcomed Foreign Minister M. Haneef Atmar of Afghanistan. (Held) detailed conversation on the peace process. Also exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and development partnership,” said Jaishankar in a message after the discussion at Hyderabad House.
The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to participate in the ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process in the Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe on March 30.
The Afghan foreign minister also spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on March 19 and stressed the need for close cooperation between the two countries for building on the outcomes of peace efforts in Doha and Moscow.
Atmar will also meet former Indian ambassadors of Afghanistan, students, businessmen, representatives of Afghan Hindus and Afghan refugees living in India, the statement said.
