India on Wednesday assured all possible help to the Afghan people to realise their vision of a strong, independent and prosperous Afghanistan as the two countries agreed to intensify cooperation in areas like security, defence and reconstruction work in the war-torn country.
India’s assurance was conveyed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai and held a wide-ranging talks on political and security situation, ahead of the NATO drawdown later this year. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in areas like security and defence.
Swaraj also inaugurated a new $40 million Indian embassy building in the heart of Kabul, featuring an integrated security system. “This is critical decade of transformation for Afghanistan. India will always be Afghanistan’s first strategic partner and we will always share Afghan people’s vision of a strong, independent, united and prosperous Afghanistan for which so many Afghans sacrificed so much,” Swaraj said while inaugurating the embassy building.
“India is prepared to do whatever is possible, whichever capabilities and means, to work with Afghan government and its people to realise this vision. India is here to stay,” she said.
During her meeting with Karzai, Swaraj expressed India’s strong commitment to continue extending its all possible help to Afghanistan to meet various challenges and conveyed that it will remain engaged in the country’s reconstruction activities in a significant way.
India has invested $2 billion in aid and reconstruction and trained scores of Afghan officers. Both the sides underlined the need for expanding trade ties.
Swaraj, who is on her first visit here as external affairs minister, drove straight from the airport to presidential palace where she held talks with Karzai on various key issues. Sources said entire political situation was also discussed during the meeting.
Swaraj said India will speed up various development projects in Afghanistan. As NATO forces prepare to withdraw from the country, Afghanistan wants India to help it in meeting security challenges. Afghanistan has been pressing India for supply of military hardware and weapons system to it. Sources said Afghan side conveyed to India its security needs.
Karzai has already given a “wish-list” to India. Seeking to enhance strategic cooperation and help Afghanistan deal with key challenges of security and stability, Swaraj arrived earlier in the day.
Swaraj’s visit also assumes significance as it comes amid rising fears of the reemergence of the Taliban and other Al Qaeda linked elements in the country following withdrawal of NATO forces by end of the year.
Afghanistan also awaits eagerly the result of the disputed second round of the presidential election held on June 14. An audit of votes of the election has already been completed and results may be announced in the next few days. Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani were in a tight race in the polls and the winner will succeed incumbent President Hamid Karzai who has been in power for nearly 13 years.
Image: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Photograph: MEA's Flickr.
