Iran, Russia and central Asian countries attend Dehli`s conference on Afghanistan security

India announced Pakistan has rejected attending the conference and China`s participation is awaited.

The meeting will be held at the level of the national security advisers of the participating countries.

Two earlier meetings under this format, sources said, have been held in Iran in September 2018 and December 2019. The third meeting in India could not be held earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A source said there has been an “overwhelming response to India’s invitation”.

“Central Asian countries as well as Russia and Iran have confirmed participation,” the source said, adding that this would be the first time that all Central Asian countries, not just Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours, would be participating in this format.

“The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India’s role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan,’ the source said.

Invitations have been extended to China and Pakistan too, and “formal responses are awaited”.