Strategic ties with Kabul… India not like US,says PM

He ruled out a US-type operation to neutralize terrorists in Pakistan wanted by India. “Experience in the past has been rather frustrating and disappointing. One cannot lose hope. Let me say one thing,I would like to say India is not like the United States,” he said.

Singh added that he would not like to discuss sensitive issues like strategies on combating terrorism in press conferences.

Singh,who reached Kabul today for a two-day visit after a gap of nearly six years,was received extremely warmly by Karzai,who said,“Welcome to your second home”. Singh responded by saying Afghanistan was India’s “special friend”.

The PM announced a fresh commitment of $ 500 million for Afghanistan’s development,over and above India’s existing aid assistance of around $ 1.5 billion. This will include 500 tractors,1,000 buses and 2.5 lakh tonnes of wheat,among other things.

The two sides lifted their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership,agreeing that an important part of the partnership would be cooperation in areas of security,law enforcement and justice,including an enhanced focus on cooperation in the fight against international terrorism,organised crime,illegal trafficking in narcotics,and money-laundering.

Singh reiterated India’s “firm and unwavering commitment” to assisting the government and people of Afghanistan in areas of priority and concern for them. The strategic partnership will be implemented under the framework of a partnership council headed by the two foreign ministers.

The joint declaration issued by the two sides “affirmed that their strategic partnership was not directed against any other state or group of states”. The declaration envisaged regular political consultations,the establishment of a strategic economic partnership,education and human resource capacity-building,people-to-people exchanges,regional economic cooperation and cooperation in the area of security and law enforcement.

Earlier,Singh said that India supported Afghanistan’s quest for peace and reconciliation,and would stand as its “partner in development”.

“We strongly support the Afghan people’s quest for peace and reconciliation. India supports the unity,integrity and prosperity of Afghanistan,” Singh said at a banquet hosted by Karzai.

India-Afghanistan relations were not directed against any other nation,Singh said. “We will like to develop good relations with all the countries that includes Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore,there is no question of Pakistan feeling that good relations between Afghanistan and India will harm Pakistan,” he said.

Karzai said it was “high time” that it was recognized that international cooperation on fighting terror in the region would benefit India,Pakistan,Afghanistan and other countries. “Terrorism is like a snake which can sneak in anywhere,” he said.

The PM said that Afghanistan,which has endured “great suffering and violence”,should now get an opportunity to put an “end to this violence”.

“Afghanistan should be allowed to rebuild itself,in the way its people want it to. Afghanistan deserves to occupy its rightful place in the global community… I have come here with a message of solidarity,friendship and goodwill from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan. India is your neighbour and partner in development. You can count on us as you build your society,economy and polity,” he said.

“There will be obstacles,but if we stand together we will achieve our goals. We will prevail,we will win,” he said.

Singh,who was accompanied by Special Envoy on Pakistan-Afghanistan S K Lambah,NSA Shivshanker Menon and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao,also met Indian embassy staffers and groups of Indians,and thanked them for their commitment towards rebuilding Afghanistan.