New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : India addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on September 16, 2026, focusing on the political, humanitarian, security, and human rights situations in Afghanistan. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, congratulated France on assuming the council’s presidency this month and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak. He also thanked Jorgate Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, for providing insights during the meeting.
Harish emphasized that the relationship between Indians and Afghans predates modern maps and borders. He noted that the roads connecting Kabul to the plains of India served not only as trade routes but also as corridors of ideas, knowledge, beliefs, and faith. Over centuries, while many empires have risen and fallen in the region, the bond of friendship and brotherhood between the Afghan and Indian people has remained unbroken. This sentiment underpins India’s policy towards Afghanistan, which advocates for peace, stability, and prosperity to support sustainable development in the country. Evidence of this commitment can be seen in India’s participation in the Doha Working Group meetings and its strong bilateral development partnership.
Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s firm belief, Harish stated that India’s shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is deeply connected to achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan. India has contributed to the development of Afghanistan through over 500 partnership projects across all 34 provinces. The country remains committed to providing assistance to the Afghan people, collaborating with UN agencies and organizations like the Afghan Red Crescent Society to ensure aid reaches those in greatest need.
He also highlighted that recent visits by Afghan ministers to India have facilitated discussions on humanitarian aid, development projects, healthcare, food security, capacity building, drug prevention, sports, education, trade, travel, and connectivity. These efforts aim to address the welfare and development needs of over 48 million Afghans, who have faced severe deprivation and neglect from the international community over the past five years.
The UN Secretary-General’s report mentioned the crisis in Afghanistan’s fragile public health system, which has led to the closure of 150 health centers in the first half of this year. Harish stressed the need to confront this serious situation and invest in preventing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. In the last quarter, India provided 33 tons of vaccines and related materials to support child vaccination programs. Additionally, India has supplied Afghan health officials with essential medical equipment, including neonatal and pediatric care tools, cardiograph machines, ventilators, patient monitors, electrocautery devices, plastic surgery sets, and specialized medical kits.
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