Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India attaches the highest priority to its ties with Afghanistan and promised strong support to the trouble-torn country’s fight against terrorism “imposed” on it, an apparent reference to trouble fomented by Pakistan.
Modi, while receiving Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani here, also reiterated India’s full support to the Government and people of Afghanistan, including through humanitarian and development assistance, in their efforts to build a peaceful, united, democratic and prosperous nation, a PMO statement said.
During the meeting, Rabbani briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Afghanistan.
“Both agreed that the Afghan peace process has to be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled,” the statement said.
It said Modi affirmed that India attaches the highest priority to its ties with Afghanistan.
“The prime minister reiterated India’s strong support to Afghanistan in fighting terrorism imposed on that country and its people,” the statement added.
The statement did not elaborate on the issue of “terrorism imposed” on Afghanistan but it was an apparent reference to trouble fomented by Pakistan in that country.
Afghanistan has been saying that terrorism in that country emanates from Pakistan where the “safe havens” exist with the patronage of the Pakistani Army. Rabbani is in India for the 2nd meeting of the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council that he co-chairs along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Earlier, after the Strategic Partnership Council meeting, Rabbani said India and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen security cooperation.
“India has further agreed to provide assistance to Afghan national defence forces,” he said.
India agreed to provide further assistance to Afghan defence forces during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rabbani.
Asserting that its relationship with Afghanistan is an “article of faith” for India, Swaraj said the two countries remain united in overcoming the challenges posed by cross border terrorism and safe havens and sanctuaries.
Addressing a joint press meet after co-chairing the Indo-Afghan strategic partnership council with Swaraj, Rabbani said India and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen security cooperation.
“India has further agreed to provide assistance to Afghan national defence forces,” he said. Afghanistan has long been pressing for greater Indian assistance in defence supplies and capacity building.
He also asserted that his country’s friendship with India does not mean hostility to any other country and added that it is not a zero-sum game.