‘Committed To Af Sovereignty, Independence’

NEW DELHI: India backed Afghanistan’s announcement that it will build a dam on the Kunar river, saying it stands ready to support Afghanistan in sustainable water management, including on hydroelectric projects. Amidst Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions, the govt also reiterated its position that it is fully committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.On the dam issue, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there’s a history of cooperation between India and Afghanistan on such issues, including the Salma Dam in Herat province.Afghanistan last week announced plans to begin construction of a dam on the Kunar river that flows into Pakistan’s northwestern region, raising concerns in Islamabad about likely restriction on the flow of water into the country. Pakistan is faced with similar concerns emanating from India’s decision to put in abeyance the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a Word Bank-brokered water sharing agreement between the two countries, after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.“Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories. Pakistan seems to think that it has the right to practice cross-border terrorism with impunity. Its neighbors find it unacceptable. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” said the Indian official.

‘OIC has no locus standi to comment on J&K’

Govt rejected OIC’s latest statement on J&K, saying the group had no locus standi to comment on issues internal to India. “Regarding the statement made by the OIC secretariat, we reject those statements. They don’t have any locus standi to speak on matters which are internal to India,” said the MEA spokesperson.The OIC general secretariat had released a statement Monday in which it reiterated “full solidarity with the people of J&K in their legitimate quest for the right to self-determination”.

India backs Turkiye rival Cyprus

Amidst India’s strained relationship with Turkiye, MEA S Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi’s “unwavering” support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Republic of Cyprus, which does not have diplomatic ties with Ankara, in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. In a meeting with his visiting counterpart Constantinos Kombos, the minister also appreciated Cyprus’s consistent support on issues of core interest to India, especially in the battle against cross-border terrorism and India’s bid to become a permanent member of the security council.