Delhi,Kabul enter first strategic partnership

However,with Afghanistan-Pakistan ties souring after the killing of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani and with the security matrix rapidly changing as the US prepares to withdraw its troops,the environment is conducive for the first Afghanistan-India strategic partnership agreement.

As reported by The Indian Express,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai inked an agreement encompassing all key fields,particularly security cooperation.

“India agrees to assist,as mutually determined,in the training,equipping and capacity building programmes of Afghan National Security Forces,” says the agreement. A sub-head,“General Principles”,specifies that the agreement is “not directed against any other State or group of States”.

While there was no pointed reference to Pakistan in public remarks from either side,there were enough indications that terrorism emanating from Pakistan did form a significant component of the hour-long restricted discussion between the two leaders.

Emerging from the meeting,Singh said: “The people of Afghanistan have suffered enough. They deserve to live in peace and decide their future themselves,without outside interference,coercion and intimidation.”

Karzai made an even more direct reference: “South Asia is facing dangers from terrorism and extremism used as an instrument of policy against innocent civilians.”

According to the Strategic Partnership document,the two sides agreed to establish a “Strategic Dialogue” to provide a framework for cooperation in the area of national security. “The dialogue will be led by NSAs and involve regular consultations with the aim of intensifying mutual efforts towards strengthening regional peace and security,” it says,adding that security cooperation is intended to help enhance their respective and mutual efforts in the “fight against international terrorism,organised crime,illegal trafficking in narcotics,money laundering and so on”.

The two sides agreed on close political cooperation and establish a mechanism for regular bilateral political and foreign office consultations. “Political consultations will be led by foreign ministries of both countries and include summit-level consultations… at least once a year,” the document says.

This Strategic Partnership would be implemented under the framework of a “Partnership Council”,which will be headed by foreign ministers of both countries. The council will convene annual meetings and consist of separate Joint Working Groups on Political & Security Consultations,Trade and Economic Cooperation,Capacity Development & Education,and Social,Cultural and Civil Society,involving high-level representatives from the ministries/authorities concerned.

After the bilateral talks Singh said: “We had detailed and frank discussions on the issue of terrorism. This threatens our entire region,and no country can remain immune to its lethal effects.”

The Prime Minister specifically mentioned the “tragic assassination” of Rabbani,and said India was “greatly encouraged by his vision”. “His brutal assassination should serve as an occasion for all of us to strengthen our resolve to jointly confront the menace of terrorism that threatens to undermine the security and stability of our region,” he said.

Appreciating India as a “steadfast friend” of Afghanistan,Karzai said New Delhi does not see his country as “terrorism and violence” but as a country trying to live in peace with its neighbours.

Singh,in his comments,said,“We both agree that Afghanistan’s economic integration with the Indian economy and South Asia as a whole is in the national interest of the people of Afghanistan,and one of the ways to achieve this is to promote closer trade,investment and transit links.”

He said India will participate in the forthcoming conferences in Istanbul and Bonn to contribute towards international and regional initiatives for supporting Afghanistan’s efforts at nation-building. “The greatest need today is for the Afghan people to have peace and stability. All countries of the region must work to facilitate this,” the PM said.

The two sides signed two MoU in the fields of hydrocarbons and mineral resource development.