Did Afghanistan's FM Reject Attempts to Create Distrust with India During Call with EAM Jaishankar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- EAM Jaishankar and Amir Khan Muttaqi engaged in crucial discussions.
- Condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack was a key point.
- Both nations aim to strengthen their long-standing friendship.
- Afghanistan dismissed Pakistan's allegations as unfounded.
- Dialogue and diplomacy are emphasized for regional stability.
Kabul/New Delhi, May 15 (NationPress) On Thursday evening, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaged in a conversation with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. He expressed gratitude for the regime's strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and firmly rejected ongoing efforts to sow discord between Kabul and New Delhi.
"Had a productive discussion with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. I sincerely appreciate his denouncement of the Pahalgam terrorist attack," EAM Jaishankar shared on X following the call.
"I welcomed his decisive rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through misleading and unfounded reports. We emphasized our historical friendship with the Afghan populace and ongoing commitment to their developmental needs. We also discussed strategies to enhance our cooperation," he added.
Recently, Afghanistan dismissed Pakistani claims alleging that India conducted missile strikes on Afghan territory, calling them "unfounded" and "baseless."
In an interview with Afghan media outlet Hurriyat Radio on May 10, Enaitullah Khawarzmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Defence Ministry, categorically dismissed Pakistan's allegations that India executed a missile strike on Afghan soil, branding such assertions as false and unfounded.
The response from Kabul followed a short period after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also rebuffed Pakistan's "completely frivolous allegations," characterizing them as "laughable claims."
During a special media briefing on Operation Sindoor alongside Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Misri urged the Afghan populace to recall which nation has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure within their borders.
"Yet again, we hear this utterly ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have struck Afghanistan. This is a totally frivolous allegation. I want to remind the Afghan people about which country has, on multiple occasions in the last year and a half, targeted civilian populations and infrastructure in Afghanistan," Misri stated, emphasizing Pakistan's role in destabilizing the region.
Kabul had previously expressed serious concerns regarding escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, especially following the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has voiced its concerns regarding the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, stating that further escalation is not in the region's interest. Afghanistan reaffirms its belief that security and stability benefit all countries in the region. It urges both parties to exercise restraint and resolve their disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry remarked in a statement.