India's concerns on Afghanistan 'first and foremost' for US: Sherman, says two countries have 'one mind and one approach' on it

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) India's security concerns are "first and foremost" for the US and the two countries are "absolutely of one mind and one approach" on Afghanistan, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Wednesday and asserted that the Taliban must act and ensure an inclusive dispensation before looking at gaining any legitimacy.

After holding extensive talks with NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Sherman said Afghanistan must not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activities.

Talking to a select group of journalists, the US Deputy Secretary of State said the US policy on China is driven by three key elements which are --challenging it whenever necessary, compete with it and extend cooperation in areas like health, climate change and counter-terrorism.

"The US and India are absolutely of one mind and one approach when it comes to Afghanistan," Sherman said amid increasing concerns in India over terrorism spilling into India and the region from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

In the evening, Sherman also called on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"Glad to meet US @DeputySecState Wendy Sherman today. A good conversation on our relationship, its significance and its growth. Appreciated the successful visit of PM @narendramodi to the US and the Quad Leaders’ Summit," Jaishankar tweeted.

Indian government sources said India has conveyed to the US its concerns over Pakistan supporting several terror groups including the Haqqani network and possible implications of developments in Afghanistan for regional security as well as Chinese actions including in eastern Ladakh.

The sources said there was a "meeting of minds" between the two sides on a whole range of issues including ways to deal with terrorism, the situation in Indo-Pacific, dealing with COVID-19 and other pressing regional and global issues.

They said ensuring travel of fully vaccinated Indians to the US without any difficulties was also raised by the Indian side.

"The partnership between India and the US is indispensable for each of our countries, for the Indo-pacific region and indeed for the world," Sherman said in her media briefing.

She said India as a partner is among the like-minded countries on how to approach the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The senior diplomat said the parameters laid by the US and the like-minded countries are the kind of parameters that India has laid out, which is that the Taliban must create an inclusive government and that they must ensure that Afghanistan will not be a safe haven for terrorists.

Sherman said the US understands India's concerns about terrorism spilling over not only to India but to the entire region and that is why President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and appropriate US departments and agencies have quickly worked on a very robust programme for "over-the-horizon" (OTH) capability for Afghanistan.

She said the US' partnership on counter-terrorism with India is part of that, adding "India's security is first and foremost in our minds. We will always have India's security at the front and centre in our considerations." "We remain engaged with each other on Afghanistan and the US appreciates India's concerns about the potential of terrorism to spill over into India and South Asia. Our two countries will soon meet for a counter-terrorism joint working group and homeland security dialogue to expand our cooperation in preventing terrorism," she said.

The counter-terror joint working group is slated from Oct 26 to 28.

The senior US official also noted that ensuring unimpeded access to Afghanistan was key for reaching out to the Afghan people and helping them.

"The US believes as does India that we must help the Afghan people as they are suffering terribly," she said, adding there was a need for humanitarian assistance in that country. She also indicated that she will raise with Pakistan the issue of ensuring unimpeded access to Afghanistan as it is critical for the UN agencies and NGOs to help the Afghan people.

Sherman said the US applauds India's announcement that it will resume vaccine exports.

"As the world's largest vaccine producer, India is a crucial global leader in the fight against COVID-19," she said.

Sherman said the US was looking forward to expanding its security cooperation with India across multiple dimensions including through information sharing, joint multilateral exercises and cooperation in maritime space.

She said India is a major global power and noted that by around 2030, it will be the "world's biggest, largest everything" as the country will have the biggest middle class and the biggest youth population among others.

The US official said both India and the US are also working on a host of other issues including a reliable supply chain and vaccine production.

The Indian government sources said there will be a flurry of visits from India to the US in the coming weeks including by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

After Sherman's meeting with Shringla, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said they discussed issues of regional interest, especially the evolving situation in Afghanistan, as well as developments at the UN.

He said both sides also reiterated commitment for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, including through continued cooperation under the Quad.

Asked about India's S-400 deal with Russia, Sherman hoped that Washington and New Delhi would be able to resolve the differences.

"We've been quite public about any country that decides to use the S-400. We think that is dangerous and not in anybody's security interest. That said, we have a strong partnership with India," Sherman said.

"We want to be very thoughtful about the ways ahead, and discussions between our countries try to solve problems and I hope we will be able to in this instance as well," she said.

The US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for the purchase of S-400 missile defences from Russia.

Sherman said any decision on possible sanctions on the S-400 deal will be made by President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in Washington that Sherman had a substantive and in-depth meeting with Shringla and that they discussed the growing security, economic, and Indo-Pacific convergence between India and the US, including around ending the COVID-19 pandemic, combating the climate crisis and accelerating clean energy deployment.

He said deepening trade and investment ties, and expanding cooperation on cybersecurity and emerging technologies also figured in the talks.

"Deputy Secretary Sherman expressed the United States' gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's announcement that India, which is the world's largest vaccine producer, would soon resume exports of COVID-19 vaccines," he said.

"The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Secretary also reviewed pressing regional and global security issues, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and the People’s Republic of China. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Secretary also discussed ongoing efforts to return Myanmar to a path to democracy," he said.

Price said Sherman assured Shringla of the United States’ ongoing commitment to India's national security.

"The two expressed their mutual commitment to upholding democracy and human rights and agreed on the importance of continued close cooperation on shared global challenges," he said.

Sherman arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit, nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Modi held talks with US President Biden in Washington. PTI MPB PYK PYK