Afghan Minister meets PM

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) The curiously-poised situation in
Afghanistan and India's extensive aid programme Tuesday came
up for a review as visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai
Rassoul met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.
Rassoul, who arrived here earlier in the day on his first
stand-alone visit since becoming the Foreign Minister in
January, updated Singh on the Karzai government's efforts to
bring about peace in the war-torn country.
Rassoul and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will
have detailed delegation-level talks on Wednesday.
As it makes reconciliatory efforts towards Taliban
elements, the Afghan government has lately been publicly
voicing its anger over Pakistan for not allowing these efforts
to succeed.
The latest salvo came in the form of an article written
by Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta in
which he talks about the frustration among the Afghan people
over the fact that sanctuaries of terrorism continue to exist
in Pakistan despite which it is pampered by the West.
"While we are losing dozens of men and women to terrorist
attacks every day, the terrorists' main mentor continues to
receive billions of dollars in aid and assistance. How is this
fundamental contradiction justified," asked Spanta.
Rassoul is also believed to have given to Singh his
government's assessment about India's assistance programme
that covers a wide range of segments benefitting the people of
Afghanistan directly.
India, with aid projects worth USD 1.3 billion already
going on in Afghanistan, has made it clear that it stands
ready to extend any possible assistance to that country
depending on its request.
India has been extending "unstinted assistance" as per
the "wishes, preferences and priorities" of Afghan government,
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
He said despite the "heinous attacks" on Indian interests
by the "forces inimical" to Indo-Afghan relations, New Delhi
remains committed to assisting government and people in their
quest for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
India plays a "benign role" which is being widely
appreciated.
On Karzai government's reconciliation efforts, India is
of the view that it should be "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned
process" and the "red-lines" should be observed.
Elaborating on the "red-lines", government sources said
any Taliban element to be rehabilitated should abjure
violence, snap links with al-Qaeda and abide by the Afghan
Constitution. PTI AKK
MYR