India: Afghanistan's peace, reintegration effort must be Afghan-led

External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Kabul on 20 July, 2010.

India today said it supported Afghanistan's efforts towards peace and reintegration, but stressed that, for it to succeed, it must be fully Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and carry all sections of Afghanistan's population together.

Speaking at the first-ever International Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul since 2001, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna also said the efforts must abide by the red lines agreed to at the London Conference -- giving up violence, cutting off all links with terrorism - whether jehadi or state-sponsored - and accepting the democratic and pluralistic values of the Afghan Constitution, including women's rights.

"The international community must learn lessons from past experiences at negotiating with fundamentalist and extremist organizations and ensure that any peace process is conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner," he said.

The conference is being attended by some 30-odd Foreign Ministers, including United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Mr Krishna said adequate capacity of the Afghan security forces and other Afghan institutions was a sine qua non for protecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty, plurality and democracy.

He warned that gains of the last nine years stood to be squandered if this aspect did not receive the attention that it deserved as the international community pondered its next steps regarding Afghanistan.

He also emphasised that the international community should also ensure that there was no selectivity in dealing with terrorism.

"Terrorism cannot be compartmentalised. As (Afghan) President (Hamid) Karzai said today, it is the vicious common enemy we face. Today, one cannot distinguish between Al Qaeda and plethora of terrorist organisations which have imbibed the goals and techniques of Al Qaeda. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith." he said.

Mr Krishna noted that the conference was being held at a crucial stage of Afghanistan's contemporary history to demonstrate solidarity with the Government of the country for its long-term stability and reconstruction.

Pointing out that India and Afghanistan were historic friends, he said India was committed to the unity, integrity and independence of Afghanistan underpinned by democracy and cohesive pluralism and free from external interference.

He said India had contributed to these goals through its Development Partnership which was implemented entirely in accordance with the priorities of the Afghan Government and people.

"Our Assistance programmes are spread all over Afghanistan and cover all sectors of development: humanitarian, infrastructural, institution and capacity building, small-scale quick gestation projects, and agriculture. The ultimate aim of our assistance is to strengthen the capacity of the Afghan state and people to stand on their own feet in the areas of governance and services for the Afghan people," he said.

He said the conference, with Afghan Government's determination to take full responsibility for Afghanistan's own development, security and governance, and the international community's willingness to realign international assistance in accordance with Afghan priorities and action plans, was a big step in that direction.

Mr Krishna said Afghanistan's stability and economic development depended a lot on its neighbours and the region as a whole.

He said Afghanistan's greatest economic potential, perhaps, resided in its immense potential as a trade, transport and energy hub, and as a bridge linking Central, West, South Asia and the Gulf. Its prosperity also depends on the consumer market of nearly 1.5 billion people in the South-Asian sub-continent, he said.

Mr Krishna said the recent reports of Afghanistan's great mineral wealth also opened up possibilities for mining and investment.

"But for Afghanistan to realize its full potential in these areas, Afghanistan's neighbours need to come together to forge greater regional cooperation and facilitate trade and transit. Growing economic inter-dependence will also help in weaning disaffected youth away from insurgency and militancy and in creating a zone of co-prosperity in the region. We support the wishes of the Government of Afghanistan to take the lead in this direction," he said.

Mr Krishna said the determination exhibited by the Afghan Government to take charge of its own destiny and future for Afghan ownership and leadership and the solidarity demonstrated by the international community in supporting this process politically, economically and in the sphere of security, augured well for the future.

"My country reiterates its commitment to stability, development and prosperity of the Afghan people and looks forward to working together closely with the Government of Afghanistan and the international community in realising these objectives," he added.

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