‘India should lead Afghan peace initiatives’
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed on Tuesday a pledge to step up reconstruction initiatives in Afghanistan as India called for closure of cross- border safe havens, a euphemism for terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan, for lasting peace in the war-torn country.
He told visiting Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani that India supports a negotiated political solution in his country not dictated by any other nation.
This was Ghani’s fourth visit to the country in three years and 12th personal interaction with Modi, the latest after the US announced a new Afghan policy in August that sought a larger role for India and faulted Pakistan for doing little to rein in terrorist outfits.
India refused to send troops to Afghanistan but vowed to expand its humanitarian efforts.
Ghani visit concluded hours before United States secretary of state Rex Tillerson arrived in New Delhi.
India has been blaming Pakistan-based terrorist outfits for the instability in Afghanistan and the region.
“The Indian leadership reiterated its support for a negotiated political reconciliation in Afghanistan that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. It was emphasised that renunciation of violence and terror; and closure of cross-border safe havens and sanctuaries were essential for any meaningful progress and lasting peace,” the foreign ministry said. Modi and Ghani reviewed India’s new development initiatives in Afghanistan. India is one of the biggest regional donors of Afghanistan and has pledged $3.1 billion to the country since the ouster of the Taliban regime. Ghani called on President Ram Nath Kovind and met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj as well.