External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attend the Heart of Asia” Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, along with his Pakistani counterpart and representatives of 49 other nations.
The term Heart of Asia coined to highlight the geostrategic location of Afghanistan at the center of Asias trade and economic junction between China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. The Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) is an initiative of the Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey, which was officially launched at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul on 2 November 2011.
The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process aims at promoting and strengthening peace, security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and in the region through confidence building and enhancing regional cooperation among 15 countries of the Heart of Asia Region.
Heart of Asia Istanbul process aims to promote economic and political cooperation for Afghanistan peace through dialogue and confidence-building measures (CBMs). The HoA-IP has become one of the most interactive voluntary state-groupings in the HoA Region. It brings Afghanistan's immediate and extended neighbors as well as international supporters together through the following focus areas - Political Consultations, Implementation of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and Cooperation with Regional Organizations.
India is one of the participating countries of Heart of Asia Istanbul process .has India ever hosted the conference: India co-hosted the 6th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Amritsar, Punjab in 2016. India remains committed to steadfastly supporting Afghanistan during this transition. India’s development partnership of USD 3 billion, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces, is aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation. The promise of more drinking water to Kabul is the latest in that list.
