By Sonal Srivastava, Amity Law School, Lucknow.
The “Heart of Asia” provides a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly with a view to encourage security, and political and economic co-operation among Afghanistan and its neighbours. This region led dialogue was initiated on 2nd November, 2011, in the city of Istanbul of Turkey, to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbours and regional partners in facing common threats, including counter terrorism, counter narcotics, poverty and extremism. The United States and over 20 other Nations and organizations play the role of “Supporting Nations” to the process. India, being one of the member countries to “Heart of Asia”, has declared, in the recent ‘Islamabad Declaration’, to host the sixth Ministerial Heart of Asia Conference in the later quarter of the year 2016. (more…)