Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, Oct 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has expressed their “firm resolve” to end terrorism and emphasised that the closure of terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries were essential for peace.
The two leaders also “positively assessed” the support extended by India in the defence and security fields, including training of thousands of Afghan defence and security men with New Delhi agreeing to extend further assistance depending upon the needs of Afghan defence and police forces.
Detailed discussions were held between the prime minister and the president, a statement by the external affairs ministry said.
The Indian leadership reiterated its support for a negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, the statement said.
During the talks, appreciation was expressed for the bravery with which Afghan forces were fighting terrorism. “The support extended by India in the defence and security fields, including training of thousands of Afghan defence and security personnel was assessed. The Indian side agreed to extend further assistance depending upon the needs of Afghan defence and police forces,” it said.
Ghani’s visit assumes significance as it comes ahead of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s talks with Indian leadership tomorrow. The US wants India to play a greater role in Afghanistan.
Tillerson had also made an unannounced trip to Kabul yesterday and had met the Afghan president.
Reiterating their commitment to their strategic partnership, the two sides positively assessed the outcomes of the recent high level bilateral exchanges, including the visits of Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Rabbani to India last month and that of the National Security Adviser to Afghanistan last week. The two sides agreed to deepen the bilateral strategic dialogue and consultations at all levels in order to achieve the shared objectives, it said.
The New Development Partnership that was launched at the meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council on September 11 was assessed as a “significant step” in building upon the highly successful development cooperation of the last 16 years.
The new generation India-assisted projects, including in the fields of health, agriculture, drinking water supply, education, renewable energy, infrastructure development, skill development and capacity building, among others will contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, economic development and effective governance.
Issues related to connectivity were discussed in detail with the two countries acknowledging the establishment of the air freight corridor as an important factor in providing Afghan farmers direct access to the Indian market.
“The efforts for early operationalisation of the Chahbahar Port, including the shipments of wheat in coming weeks to Afghanistan through the Port was considered as a step
that would shape new trade and transit opportunities for landlocked Afghanistan,” the statement said.
The Indian side reiterated the readiness of its Integrated Check Post at Attari for receiving Afghan trucks carrying goods to and from India.
