India acknowledges Taliban's position of power and authority

NEW DELHI: India has recognized the authority of the Taliban in Afghanistan for the first time in a joint statement with Australia though is far from officially recognizing the Taliban administration as the government of Afghanistan.

This reference by India is a step forward for the "diplomatic establishment". As per reports, Sunday’s formulation was arrived at after “much debate and deliberation” over the last week after the Taliban announced its Cabinet.

In the Joint statement on Sunday following the inaugural India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue, both the countries expressed concern over the situation of women and children and sought the protection of rights of women and children and their full participation in public life and expressed concerns over targeted violence against the defenders of their rights.

The two countries underlined the urgent need for all countries to take “immediate, sustained, verifiable and irreversible” action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such strikes.

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Australia reiterated its condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot and Pulwama attacks, and reiterated its support for New Delhi in the fight against terrorism, the joint statement said.

“The ministers also underscored the importance of an early resolution of the issue of taxation of offshore income of Indian firms under the India-Australia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement,” the joint statement said.

On the situation in Afghanistan, the statement said the ministers expressed deep concern over it. “The ministers called for the Taliban to guarantee safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans wanting to leave the country. They reiterated calls on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to adhere to counterterrorism commitments and human rights, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2593,” the statement said.

“They also reaffirmed their support for the early finalization and adoption of a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism,” the statement said.

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