India, Afghanistan say terror undermining peace in region

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) In an apparent reference to
Pakistan, India and Afghanistan Wednesday said the terror
groups targeting them should be denied safe havens as
terrorism is the main threat undermining peace and stability
in the region.

The problem of terrorism, emanating from Pakistan and
faced by both India and Afghanistan, was one of the main
issues of wide-ranging discussions between Indian External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Afghan Foreign Minister
Zalmai Rassoul here and the two sides expressed their resolve
to defeat the scourge.
Krishna and Rassoul "agreed that terrorism is the main
threat undermining peace and stability in the region and
reiterated their resolve to effectively combating and
defeating it," a joint statement issued after the talks said.
The two leaders "emphasised the need to ensure that
terrorist and extremist groups targeting Afghanistan and other
countries in the region are denied safe havens and
sanctuaries," it said.
The joint statement did not make any mention of Pakistan
but both India and Afghanistan have been victims of terrorism
emanating from that country and have been pressing Islamabad
to deny sanctuaries to terror groups.
During the talks, Krishna and Rassoul shared their vision
of Afghanistan as a hub linking Central and South Asia through
easier trade and transit links and people-to-people exchanges.
They underlined the need for an early operationalization
of India-Afghanistan Partnership Council to widen and deepen
mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
India conveyed its desire to see a strong, stable,
peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan and reiterated its
commitment to assisting Afghanistan in its development efforts
in accordance with the wishes and priorities of the people of
Afghanistan.
The Ministers reaffirmed the determination of the two
governments to strengthen their 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.
Rassoul, who arrived here on Tuesday, met Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh soon after.
During the meeting, Singh conveyed India’s strong support
for the government and people of Afghanistan in their
endeavour to build a peaceful, prosperous and democratic
nation.
Rassoul conveyed Afghanistan’s deep appreciation for the
important and constructive role being played by India in the
reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
India has rolled out an assistance programme in
Afghanistan to the tune of USD 1.3 billion benefitting the
people of that country directly. PTI AKK
KAB