India sides with Taliban, Pakistan & China, slams Trump bid to take over Bagram base, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• India joined Taliban, Pakistan, China, and Russia in opposing Donald Trump's bid to take over the Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
• A joint statement was issued by participants of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan stating that deploying military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring states is unacceptable.
• The seventh meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations included representatives from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Taliban rejected Trump's demand to hand over the Bagram air base, emphasizing that Afghanistan will not allow its land to be handed over to anyone.
• Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is scheduled to visit India, marking a historic first for a Taliban foreign minister.

Detailed Insights:

• The Bagram air base is strategically important due to its two concrete runways and location in Afghanistan's mountainous terrain, making it suitable for large military planes.
• The Moscow format joint statement emphasized the need for counter-terrorism cooperation and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used as a threat to neighboring countries.
• Parties at the Moscow Format Consultations supported the development of economic and trade exchanges, investment cooperation, and regional economic projects with Afghan participation.
• The joint statement reiterated commitment to humanitarian support for the Afghan people and opposed attempts to politicize it, urging the international community to intensify emergency assistance.
• Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit to India was approved by the UN Security Council from October 9 to 16, as he is on the list of sanctioned individuals under UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011).

Key Concepts Involved:

• Moscow Format Consultations: A platform for discussions on Afghanistan involving regional countries.
• UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011): A United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Taliban.
• Bagram Air Base: A strategically important air base in Afghanistan, previously used by the United States military.