NEW DELHI, Mar 24: The International Committee of the Red Cross has sought stronger diplomatic support from India in assisting it in countries like Afghanistan and play an important role during the transition of the war-torn nation in the next two years.
According to ICRC Director General Yves Daccord, India has shown lot of commitment on Afghanistan and it just needs to maintain that.
“There are issues which are more largely related with questions of healthcare as hospitals and medical facilities are being attacked. India can play an important role diplomatically. They can help us in countries like Afghanistan and also in Middle East. So I am counting on the diplomatic support from India,” Daccord told in an interview during his recent India visit.
Stressing that ICRC wants to have strategic relationship with India on issues where both sides have joint concern like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka besides regional concerns where India is a very important player, he said, “The government of India has its own agenda. We will be happy to discuss humanitarian questions. We want to have some more strong diplomatic support from India.
“Our aim is to have a very strong, transparent, comprehensive dialogue with Indian authorities in terms of role of India in our joint cooperation around the world, their support to us. I would like India to be a strong supporter and be an active partner in what we do together in India.”
In Afghanistan, ICRC’s focus is on the needs of Afghan people as the process of handing over security responsibilities from international forces to local authorities is underway.
“Our focus is really health. We also look after basic services like food. We are worried about Afghanistan. The next two years will be difficult. I hope I am wrong. But we need to be prepared for the difficult times,” Daccord, a Swiss national, said.
During his visit, he met several government representatives and officials and spoke at some think tanks besides reviewing joint activities in India with Indian Red Cross Society.
ICRC has completed 30 years in India and is celebrating 150 years anniversary globally. In India, it is operating in Jammu and Kashmir since 1995 and is permanently present in New Delhi since 1982. Besides, it is jointly working with Red Cross Society in the northeast and Chhattisgarh.
He sees three good reasons why India is a very important country.
“It is perceived as a country economically very strong, moving forward and innovative. Secondly, in a world where there is not any more international convergence on big issues, people will look more to India to have their own opinion, and in a way their own strategy to help the world to deal with conflicts. And third, India is taking active part in peacekeeping missions.”
On the beheading of the Indian soldier, he said ICRC is carefully monitoring the issue.
“The beheading issue was a specific incident part of a larger problem. It’s a terrible incident for the force, the family and the country. This kind of behaviour has an enormous impact on the people,” he said.
On Sri Lanka, he said the country has gone through difficult times.
“Now the situation is a bit balanced than it was a few years ago. What happened in 2009 was terrible. It was one of the worst battles ICRC has seen. What is positive for us is that the government has allowed us again to get access to the prisoners, to monitor prisoners, including Tamil prisoners.”
Of late the ICRC has been making efforts to protect the integrity and support the livelihoods of millions of people in critical situations such as Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Israel and the occupied territories, Mali, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, among many others.
But Afghanistan continues to worry Daccord.
“The next two years, I think we should not underestimate how difficult the transition would be. The international community has in a way announced that they will withdraw their troops. Nobody knows what is in store, what will be the scenario, who takes over power.
“For ICRC as an organisation, the big issue is to be able to really continue to have a direct access to people affected everywhere, being able to engage not only the government but also the armed opposition in the dialogue.” (PTI)
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