External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Afghan Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah on Friday, on the overall situation in Afghanistan, amid a rise in violence there in the wake of quick withdrawal of the U.S. troops. “Always good to meet Chairman HCNR @DrabdullahCE. Appreciate his sentiments and support for our relationship. Value his insights on the region,” Jaishankar tweeted. Abdullah, the chairman of the powerful High Council for National Reconciliation, has been playing a key role in negotiating with all the stakeholders to bring lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is in the UK, ostensibly to discuss the Indo-UK roadmap till 2030, but sources said Afghanistan would occupy a major portion of the talks as India tries to get a handle on a US-UK tandem in this respect. Soon after the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers met on Afghanistan in mid-July, the US sprang a surprise by announcing a Quadrilateral comprising Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and itself to promote connectivity in the region. Philippine extends travel ban to Thailand, Malaysia; imposes curbs amid Delta Xi Jinping arrives in village adjoining Arunachal Pradesh amid ongoing border dispute with India Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi to visit China today, issues possible to be discussed