NEW DELHI: Visiting Afghan President … Mohammad Daud met Indian External Affairs Minister Yeshwantrao Chavan for 45 minutes today [March 11]. They are understood to have reviewed, according to BBC, bilateral relations, military training facilities for Afghans and supply of arms. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Waheed Abdullah told newsmen after the meeting that the Daud-Chavan talks were “concentrated on the situation in the region”. …

Mr Chavan told newsmen they had an exchange of views on the American decision to lift the arms embargo. They also discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Mr Abdullah said Afghan-Pakistan relations were strained after the drastic action taken by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto against the National Awami Party and the arrest of its chief, Khan Abdul Wali Khan. He added: “I must say that Pakistan has unfortunately delayed a rapprochement and dialogue which was supposed to take place between us. … It is entirely up to Mr Bhutto. Any dialogue is welcome if Pakistan can go back to the status quo obtaining before Feb 10 [when NAP lawmakers were arrested]. Sardar Daud and Indian Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi yesterday met for about two hours.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025