Dr. S. Jaishankar:
Thank you for convening this timely an important meeting on the
humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, India has consistently supported
a central role of the United Nations on its future. A multilateral
platform is always more effective than small groups in building global
consensus and encouraging united action.
We therefore believe that the UN Security Council resolution 2593
should guide the international community's approach in the coming days.
Afghanistan is passing through a critical and challenging phase. There
has been a sea change in its political, economic, social and security
situation, and consequently, in its humanitarian needs. As an immediate
neighbour, India's monitoring developments with understandable concern.
Mr. Secretary General, the UNDP has recently assessed that there is an
imminent threat of poverty levels rising from 72 to 97% in that
country. This would have catastrophic consequences, not just in our
collective fight against poverty, but also for regional stability. Even
as we address that, it is important that the issue of travel and safe
passage that can emerge as an obstacle to humanitarian assistance be
immediately sorted out. Those who wish to travel into and out of
Afghanistan should be granted such facilities without obstruction. The
normalisation of regular commercial operations of Kabul airport would
not only assist in that regard, but then become the basis for a regular
flow of relief material. This would also accelerate activities that
would complement domestic relief measures.
India's own approach to Afghanistan has always been guided by its
historical friendship with its people. This will continue to be the
case. For that reason, even in the past, we have contributed to the
humanitarian requirements of that society. This included providing more
than 1 million metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan over the past
decade. Last year too we have assisted Afghanistan with 75,000 metric
tonnes of wheat. India has also partnered World Food Programme for
distribution of high protein biscuits over several years. This
innovative scheme particularly supported vulnerable school going
children of Afghanistan.
Mr. Secretary General, India's efforts and helping the Afghan people
has been both direct and indirect way of contributed to the livelihood
and larger framework as significantly as they have to direct material
leads. Our friendship is reflected in Indian development projects that
today exist in all the 34 provinces.
In all, we have invested more than US dollar 3 billion for the welfare
of the people of Afghanistan. We have undertaken 500 projects in
critical areas of power, water supply, road connectivity, healthcare,
education, agriculture and capacity building.
Today, I wish to underline that in the face of a grave emerging
situation India is willing to stand by the Afghan people, just as in
the past. To ensure that this happened speedily and effectively, we
believe that the international community must come together to create
the best possible enabling environment. Among the challenges that the
current situation poses is that of efficient logistics. It is therefore
essential that humanitarian assistance providers are accorded
unimpeded, unrestricted and direct access to Afghanistan. Once relief
materials reach that country, the world will naturally expect a
non-discriminatory distribution of humanitarian assistance across all
sections of the Afghan society. Only the United Nations has the
capacity to monitor such endeavours and reassure donors. As the picture
becomes clear in respect of the legitimate concerns I am confident that
the world will step forward and assist the Afghan people in their hour
of need. I thank you.
