Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP)

Why in news?

• Afghanistan has welcomed the remarks made by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar at the ''Heart of Asia'' conference in Dushanbe on Tuesday.

About the process:

• 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.
• Since then, Afghanistan supported by fourteen Participating Countries of the Heart of Asia Region and 16 Supporting Countries beyond the region as well as 12 Regional and International Organizations is leading and coordinating this Process.
• It is a platform for promoting regional security, economic and political cooperation centered on Afghanistan through dialogue and a set of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).
• 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)
  • Cooperation with Regional Organizations
• India is a member of Heart of Asia conference.

Prelims Question

Heart of Asia conference is a diplomatic initiative focused on:
(a)Taiwan
(b)Afghanistan
(c)Syria
(d)Iran

Answer to the Prelims Question