Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, PM Modi vow to fight terrorism

New Delhi: After talks between visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, India — which has been training thousands of Afghan defence and security forces personnel — has agreed to “extend further assistance (to Afghanistan) depending upon the needs of the Afghan defence and police forces”. 

The two leaders also agreed that “renunciation of violence and terror; and closure of cross border safe havens and sanctuaries were essential for any meaningful progress and lasting peace (in Afghanstan)”, a veiled reference once again to Pakistan’s role in fomenting violence in the strife-torn country. The two leaders also “discussed a range of bilateral, regional & global issues, and expressed firm resolve to end the menace of terrorism”, while deciding to "further deepen the bilateral strategic dialogue”.

President Ghani’s visit follows a string of terror attacks by the Pakistan-based Taliban on Afghan security forces in the past two weeks, leading to massive casualties. “This was President Ghani’s “fourth visit to India in the last 3 years and 12th personal interaction between the two leaders”.

“Deep appreciation was expressed for the bravery with which the Afghan forces were fighting terrorism imposed on Afghanistan,” the MEA said, once again a veiled reference to Pakistan-backed terrorism. Detailed discussions were held at the Hyderabad House in the Capital between Modi and President Ghani in one on one format, restricted meeting and a working lunch, the MEA said. 

Development assistance by India and connectivity issues were also discussed at the meeting. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also met Mr. Ghani. The Afghan President also met his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind.

Afghanistan has been asking for military equipment from India. New Delhi has been cautious on this but had earlier given four military helicopters to Kabul. India had recently made it clear to the United States that Indian troops would not be deployed in Afghanistan at any cost.

"The support extended by India in the defence and security fields, including training of thousands of Afghan defence and security personnel was positively assessed. The Indian side agreed to extend further assistance depending upon the needs of the Afghan defence and police forces," the MEA said, in a statement after talks between the two leaders. The MEA further said, "The Indian leadership reiterated its support for a negotiated political reconciliation in Afghanistan that is Afghan led, Afghan owned and Afghan controlled. It was emphasised that renunciation of violence and terror; and closure of cross border safe havens and sanctuaries were essential for any meaningful progress and lasting peace."

"Both sides reiterated their commitment to their strategic partnership and positively assessed the outcomes of the recent high level bilateral exchanges, including the visits of Chief Executive H. E. Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Foreign Minister Rabbani to India last month and that of the National Security Adviser of India to Afghanistan last week," the MEA said.

On the development assistance being undertaken by India in the strife-torn country, the MEA said, "The New Development Partnership that was launched at the meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council on 11 September was assessed as a significant step in building upon the highly successful development cooperation of the past 16 years.