Ahead of the US Secretary of State’s visit to India, a US official said that Biden’s administration had called on New Delhi and Islamabad to establish more stable relations and work together to stabilize Afghanistan. The US official has said that cooperation between New Delhi and Islamabad has long been a demand of the Washington Foundation; The remarks come as Anthony Blanken is set to begin his first trip to India and then travel to several other countries in South and East Asia.

 

Dean Thompson, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs, told reporters that Anthony Blanken’s visit to New Delhi discussed a political agreement in Afghanistan with the US Secretary of State in charge. Indians want to increase their focus on achieving a political solution through dialogue in Kabul. The State Department official also announced that Blanken would also arrive in Kabul, but Blanken’s visit to Kabul has been kept secret due to security concerns.

 

The State Department official is expected to travel to New Delhi on July 26 to hold wide-ranging talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Secretary of State SG Shanker, and other Indian officials. It is said that India’s role in Afghanistan and the improvement of relations between New Delhi and Islamabad will be one of the central points of these meetings. According to reports, Blanken will begin his trip to South Asia and the Middle East on July 26 and return to Washington on July 28.

 

“Dealing with the challenges between the two nuclear nations is their own business, but Washington will persuade the two powerful countries of South Asia to resolve these tensions,” said Dean Thompson, referring to improving relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. We would like to see India and Pakistan together in a peaceful atmosphere and a permanent ceasefire between the two countries. We still hope that the truce between the two countries will last and that the Indians will have a long-term relationship with the Pakistanis. “

 

Indian Foreign Minister Anthony Blanken is arriving in New Delhi as fighting in Afghanistan escalates and the Taliban escalate tensions with the Afghan government instead of agreeing to peace. The group has now stepped up its attacks in Kandahar, Kapisa, and some other provinces of the country.