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External forces should not sponsor violence in Afghanistan: India

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Nov 30,IRNA -- Concerned over the challenges to security in Afghanistan, India Tuesday sought a sincere commitment by external powers to abjure the temptation to'foster' and 'sponsor' disruptive forces in the resource-rich nation so as to improve the investment climate there.

Underlining India's commitment to rebuilding the war-torn country, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said that the government would 'actively' welcome Indian investments in Afghanistan which is trying to emerge from a trouble phase of its history.

But, to overcome the challenges of insecurity in Afghanistan, serious and sustained efforts were not only required from the Afghan government but also from the external powers, Kaur said in a statement at the Afghanistan International Investment Conference in Dubai, pti reported.

'However, overcoming the challenges of insecurity in Afghanistan require serious and sustained efforts not only by the Afghan leadership, but also a sincere commitment by external powers to abjure the temptation to foster and sponsor disruptive forces within Afghanistan,' Kaur said without naming any country.

India's contribution to Afghan reconstruction and development has continued, and even expanded, despite repeated and targeted attacks against Indian individuals and interests in Afghanistan, she noted.

'I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the commitment and determination of the Government of India to continue to partner the people of Afghanistan in developing capacity and infrastructure in their country,' she said.

'Indian industry is keenly aware of the economic complementarities that exist between Afghanistan and India, and is eager to expand its presence in all sectors of the Afghan economy,' she said.

Reports have suggested that northern Afghanistan sits on a huge oil field with an estimated reserve of 1.8 billion barrels.

She noted that Indo-Afghan collaborations could contribute significantly to developing the industrial capacity of Afghanistan across the entire gamut of primary, secondary and tertiary economic activities.

India's development partnership with Afghanistan aims to build indigenous Afghan capacities and institutions for an effective state system that is able to deliver goods and services required by the Afghan people, she said.

At the same time, one must acknowledge that the commitment of the international community towards Afghanistan cannot, in perpetuity, continue to remain an assistance-based relationship, the minister said.

Thus, she said the conference offered a timely and valuable opportunity to reflect on the steps and measures needed to improve the investment climate of Afghanistan.

India is fully committed to unleashing and developing the economic complementarities that bind the nations of South Asia together, for the common benefit of all our peoples, she said at the meeting also attended by Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash.