New Delhi, May 5 (Representative) India and France have called for an inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan that respects the rights of women, children and minorities, a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with French President Emmanuel Macron said. “On Afghanistan, India and France expressed serious concern on the humanitarian situation and violation of human rights and reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan, emphasising respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs,” the joint statement said. The two countries also reaffirmed the UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) and emphasised on zero tolerance for the use of Afghan territory for spreading terrorism in other parts of the world, and agreed to work together in this regard, including at the UN Security Council.
Modi paid an official visit to France on Thursday in the last leg of his European tour, while on his way back from the 2nd India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen. Macron and Modi met both at one-on-one and delegation level formats. The two leaders held discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues, including cooperation in defence, space, blue economy, civil nuclear and people-to-people ties. The two leaders also took stock of the regional and global security outlook and discussed ways to work together in making the India- France Strategic Partnership a force for global good. Modi’s visit to France displayed the strong friendship and goodwill not only between the two countries but also between the two leaders, a government statement said. Modi also extended an invite to Macron to visit India at the earliest.