India committed to Afghan-owned, Afghan-controlled peace: Sushma

SAMARKAND(UZBEKISTAN): India on Sunday said it was committed to the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and to promote an inclusive “Afghan-led, Afghanowned and Afghan-controlled” peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn country.

India’s position was enunciated by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the historic India-central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, which focussed on a plethora of regional issues. Swaraj was accompanied by foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan took part in the meeting.

“I would like to specifically point out that our region is facing serious challenges posed by terrorism. India, Central Asia and Afghanistan are societies which are tolerant and plural. The ideology of hate has no place in our societies,” Swaraj said while addressing the first session of the dialogue.