New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday co-chaired the Indo-Afghan strategic partnership council meeting with her Afghanistan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani in Delhi.
During the meeting, both countries signed a number of bilateral agreements ranging from security to supply of food grains.
India has also agreed to provide further assistance to Afghan forces after the United States in its new Afghanistan Policy demanded India to play a more active role.
Swaraj said, India will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with people of Afghanistan and that both countries will continue to remain united in overcoming the challenges posed by terrorism.
“We remain united in overcoming challenges posed by cross border terrorism & safe havens&sanctuaries to both our countries,” EAM Swaraj said.
India will also expedite the development of Chabahar post in a trilateral cooperation with Iran and will also begin supply of wheat to the war-hit country in coming weeks.
Afghanistan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said the current regional trends have brought both countries even closer to protect and achieve the socio-economic, security and trade interests.
“Current regional trends bring India-Afghanistan closer than ever to protect & achieve our socio-economic, security and trade interests,” he said.
He also said that closer India-Afghan ties must not create hostility with other neighboring countries.
“I must be clear that our friendship with India or any other country does not mean hostility to others in our neighborhood,” Afghan FM said.
Rabbani also extended Afghanistan’s open support to India’s bid for permanent membership of UN Security Council.
“Afghanistan strongly & openly supports India's bid for permanent membership of UN Security Council,” Rabbani said.
