India, US have 'one mind, one approach' on Afghanistan, says Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman

India’s security concerns will be the “first and foremost” and at the “front and centre” for Washington, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in Wednesday on New Delhi’s apprehensions about the spill over of terrorist activity from Afghanistan.

Sherman, who held talks with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and NSA Ajit Doval, also said that India and the US have “one mind and one approach” on developments in Afghanistan.

Noting that the US appreciates India’s concerns over spread of terrorism from Afghanistan, she told a select group of reporters that Washington is putting together a robust programme for “over-the-horizon” (OTH) capability for Afghanistan but did not elaborate on it.

The Deputy Secretary of State said both India and the US have a similar approach on the way forward in Afghanistan that included the Taliban ensuring an inclusive government and that Afghanistan must not become a safe haven for terrorists.

She also emphasised safe and orderly travel for those who want to leave Afghanistan and called for the need to ensure respect for human rights.

The senior US official said that the Taliban must act, and not just speak words and that no country is in a rush on recognising the dispensation in Kabul or giving legitimacy to it.

She said that there was a need to help the Afghan people.

Sherman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a three-day visit.

‘Hope India, US will be able to resolve differences over S-400’

Sherman on Wednesday said she hoped that the US and India will be able to resolve the differences over New Delhi’s procurement of a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia.

Sherman told a group of select journalists that any decision on possible sanctions on the S-400 deal will be made by President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Her comments came while replying to a question on the issue.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary on Tuesday said that the first batch of S-400 missile defence system will arrive in India by this year.

“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 purchase of S-400 missile defences from Russia.

In October 2018, India had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.

India made the first tranche of payment of around $800 million to Russia for the missile systems in 2019. The S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

Following US sanctions on Turkey, there have been apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India.

With inputs from PTI