New Delhi
India and Afghanistan on Wednesday discussed the Taliban offensive, especially in Ghazni, the ground security situation and the rise of Islamic State.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, who was in Delhi for a day-long visit, held one-on-one as well as delegation-level talks with PM Narendra Modi. “President Ghani briefed the Prime Minister on initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people,” said an Indian statement.

While Afghanistan feels there has been a rise in the number of IS terrorists, Russia and Iran view them as mostly foreign fighters from Iraq and Syria. However, Kabul and Delhi share the view that 70% of the fighters belong to Orakzai in Pakistan.

According to sources, Ghani suggested that 100-odd Pakistani nationals were identified as orchestrating terror strikes in Ghazni. The Kabul visit of new Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also figured during the talks. “They did not see any discernible change in approach to Afghanistan by the new Pakistan government,” said a source.

Ghani also talked about his government’s efforts to restore peace with the Taliban and the next round of unilateral ceasefire. Modi reiterated India’s support to an “Afghan-led, owned and controlled peace and reconciliation process”. Modi also raised the issue of seven Indian nationals abducted in Baghlan in May. Ghani assured that he was looking into the matter personally and all possible efforts were being made to secure an early release of the hostages.