‘Afghanistan was thrown under the bus by the world’: Jaishankar replies to Europe

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday countered criticism of India’s position on Ukraine, saying that how an entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world in Afghanistan.

Responding to a question from Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar reiterated that India’s position has been very clear regarding conflict in Ukraine.

“I think where the conflict in Ukraine is concerned, we have a very clear position that has been articulated. A position which emphasises the urgent cessation of fighting, which urges a return to diplomacy and dialogue which stresses the need for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” said Jaishankar.

He further stated that Asia face its own sets of challenges which often have an impact on the rules-based order.

“You spoke about Ukraine, I remember less than a year ago what happened in Afghanistan, where an entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world or we in Asia face our own sets of challenges which often have an impact on the rules-based order,” said Jaishankar.