India is monitoring the developments in Afghanistan with “understandable” concern, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday. He made the remarks while addressing the United Nations High-Level meeting on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.

The EAM went on to add that Afghanistan is passing through a critical and challenging phase. Afghans are facing the imminent threat of rising poverty levels and the same could have a catastrophic effect on stability in the region, S Jaishankar said.

“As an immediate neighbour, India is monitoring developments with understandable concern. The UNDP recently assessed that there is an imminent threat of poverty levels rising from 72 per cent to 97 per cent. This would have catastrophic consequences for regional stability,” news agency ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

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EAM bats for resumption of regular flights

During his address, the External Affairs Minister also stressed the importance of safe passage for those Afghans who are looking to travel abroad with valid documents.

Afghans wait in front of a bank as they try to withdraw money in Kabul on Sept 12, 2021 | AP

“Those who wish to travel in and out of Afghanistan should be granted such facilities without obstruction,” said Jaishankar.

Demanding that such safe passage be sought without any delays, the EAM said normalisation of regular commercial (flight) operations” out of Kabul airport could become the basis of a “regular flow of relief material”.

India willing to stand by Afghan people: EAM

Referring to India’s historic ties with the Afghan people, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the friendship between the two countries is “reflected in Indian development projects in all 34 provinces” in Afghanistan.

“In the face of a grave emergency situation, India is willing to stand by the Afghan people, as in the past. The international community must come together to create the best possible, enabling environment,” S Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar further appealed to the international community to come together and create the best possible environment to enable humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

“Once relief materials reach that country, the world will naturally expect a non-discriminatory distribution of humanitarian assistance, across all sections of Afghan society,” he said.