India, Afghanistan to ensure terrorists are denied safe havens

NEW DELHI - With Pakistan trying to influence the outcome of the Taliban integration plan, India and Afghanistan Wednesday joined hands to ensure that terrorist and extremist groups targeting the violence-torn country and the region are denied safe havens and sanctuaries.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna held delegation-level talks with his Afghan counterpart Zalmay Rassoul on a wide spectrum of issues that included a review of India’s $1.3 billion development assistance for Afghanistan and the security of around 3,500 Indians working in that country.

Terrorism and continuing support to terror groups from a section of the Pakistani establishment dominated the discussions.

“They agreed that terrorism is the main threat undermining peace and stability in the region and reiterated their resolve to effectively combating and defeating it,” said a joint statement after the talks.

“They also emphasised the need to ensure that terrorist and extremist groups targeting Afghanistan and other countries in the region are denied safe havens and sanctuaries,” said the statement in a veiled reference to Pakistan’s alleged patronage of terror networks in Afghanistan.

India, on its part, reiterated its resolve to continue reconstruction of the violence-torn country despite persistent terror threats from Pakistan-backed groups to its personnel and assets in that country.

“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,” said the statement.

The two ministers also agreed to early implementation of of the India-Afghanistan Partnership Council to widen cooperation and to help Afghanistan become a hub linking Central and South Asia through easier trade and transit links and people-to-people exchanges.

Krishna conveyed India’s security concerns and told Rassoul about intelligence reports about plans of Pakistan-aided militant outfits like the Haqqani network to target Indian assets in Afghanistan, the sources said.

They also also discussed a regional approach involving Iran and Russia in stabilizing Afghanistan.

Rassoul, who arrived in India on a three-day visit Tuesday, has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and briefed them on the ongoing efforts of the Afghan government to bring peace to the country, informed sources said.

Rassoul also told his Indian interlocutors about the Sep 18 parliamentary election and the preparations for the event.

During his discussions, Rassoul assured India that his country will stick to the red lines while pursuing meaningful Taliban re-integration. At the July 20 Kabul conference, Krishna had made it clear that only those elements of the Taliban who renounce violence, cut off links with terrorism and accept the Afghan constitution should be accommodated.