PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will virtually participate in a G-20 leaders' summit on Afghanistan on Tuesday that is expected to deliberate on the overall situation in the war-torn country after its takeover by the Taliban. Announcing Prime Minister Modi's participation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "The agenda of the meeting will include a discussion on response to humanitarian needs and access to basic services and livelihood; security and the fight against terrorism; and mobility, migration and human rights." "At the invitation of the Italian Presidency of the G-20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the upcoming G-20 Extraordinary Leaders' Summit on Afghanistan on October 12 in virtual format," it said. Italy is the current chair of the G-20 that comprises 20 of the world's major economies. Modi had also participated in the SCO-CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) outreach summit on Afghanistan last month. Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the meeting of G-20 foreign ministers on Afghanistan on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. The MEA said G-20 is an important platform to help build international consensus and facilitate a coordinated approach between multilateral organisations, including the UN and its agencies, and global and regional actors to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. In a separate statement, India on Monday condemned the terrorist attack on a mosque in the Afghan city of Kunduz during Friday prayers, that killed at least 100 people and left many injured. According to reports, a suicide bomber carried out the attack, the deadliest since the US troops left the country. "India stands committed in the fight against the scourge of terrorism and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan.We stand with the people of Afghanistan and hope that perpetrators of this attack will be identified and brought to justice expeditiously," the ministry said.
