India and Afghanistan agree on need to deny safe haven to terror groups

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zalmai in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Agreeing that terrorism continued to be the threat undermining peace and stability in the region, India and Afghanistan on Wednesday reiterated their stand to work jointly to combat and defeat it.

In a joint statement issued by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Afghanistan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul the two leaders emphasised on the need to ensure that terrorist and extremist groups, targeting Afghanistan and other countries in the region, are denied safe haven and sanctuaries.

They shared their vision of making Afghanistan a hub linking Central and South Asia, through easier trade and transit links and people-to-people exchanges. In line with the London and Kabul conferences on Afghanistan-led solution, India conveyed its desire to see a strong, stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan and reiterated its commitment to assisting the country in its development efforts, in accordance with the wishes and priorities of the people of Afghanistan.

The Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the frequent and substantive consultations between the two sides and underscored the need for an early operationalisation of the India-Afghanistan Partnership Council, to widen and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

They also reaffirmed their determination to strengthen the rich, multi-dimensional and long-term strategic partnership, in the common interests of the people of the two countries and the region as a whole.

Dr. Rassoul, who came here on the invitation of Mr. Krishna, also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and discussed on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Conveying his best wishes to President Hamid Karzai and other leaders of Afghanistan, Dr. Singh expressed India's strong support for the government and people of Afghanistan in their endeavour to build a peaceful, prosperous and democratic nation, a press statement said.

“Constructive role”

The Afghanistan Foreign Minister conveyed his country's deep appreciation for the important and constructive role being played by India in the reconstruction and development of the country.