India backs Afghan peace process, achievements

KABUL (Pajhwok): Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar has discussed the expansion of bilateral relations, strengthening of regional and international consensus on Afghan peace talks and other topics with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Atmar, currently on a three-day visit to New Delhi, met Jaishankar and discussed greater bilateral economic cooperation and enhanced regional connectivity.

Atmar presented good wishes and from President Ashraf Ghani to the leadership of India, appreciating $3billiong in economic and development assistance from New Delhi to Afghanistan over the past two decades.

About India's recent commitments and cooperation, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Shatoot Dam, the delivery of 500,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine and 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.

Jaishankar promised that India, as a friend and partner of Afghanistan, would continue to support reconstruction and developmental projects for the welfare and prosperity of Afghanistan, a statement from the ministry said.

The two sides also discussed regional connectivity projects, including the development of a railway line from Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan, expansion of the Chabahar port and greater trade between the two countries.

They agreed to form specialised working groups in various fields to strengthen economic and development cooperation and to follow up on the planned projects at the technical level.

With regard to the peace process, the two sides reviewed the Troika Meeting in Moscow and hailed the final declaration as a positive move towards strengthening and advancing the reconciliation drive.

India reaffirmed its readiness to participate in regional conferences on peace and development in Afghanistan, including the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process in Tajikistan and talks in Turkey. New Delhi strongly supported the peace process and achievements of the Afghan people over the last two decades.

Atmar underlined India's role in the Afghan peace process and called for its greater involvement in strengthening regional and international consensus in the success of peace talks. The Indian minister expressed readiness to help boost the consensus.

He believed that the national consensus and unity within Afghanistan would further strengthen and contribute to the regional and international consensus.

sa/mud