Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Significant lawmakers from the G-7 countries have requested that India should be invited to attend the bloc’s meetings that seek to develop a common and united front for global security and regional stability in the aftermath of the Taliban taking control over Afghanistan.
According to the reports, US Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his counterparts from Italy, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the European Parliament in a joint statement stated that African Union should be invited to attend individual G-7 meetings.
The withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan should not be misinterpreted by the global community as any weakening of resolve from G7 governments in taking all necessary measures to combat cross-border terrorism, to support regional cooperation or advance democratic values, Menendez and his counterparts from G-7 countries stated in the joint statement.
The G-7 is an intergovernmental political grouping of seven countries comprising the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. US President Joe Biden on Tuesday addressed an emergency meeting of the G-7 and other world leaders amid the withdrawal of America’s troops by August 31.
Besides Menendez, the joint statement was issued by David McAllister, MEP, Chair, European Parliament; Jean-Louis Bourlanges, Chair, French National Assembly; Dr Norbert Rottgen MdB, Chair, German Bundestag; Piero Fassino, MP, Chair, Italian Chamber of Deputies; ABE Toshiko, Chair, Japanese House of Representatives; and Tom Tugendhat, MP, Chair, UK Parliament. The Canadian Parliament is dissolved for the forthcoming election.
