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India and Afghanistan have agreed to deepen their defence and security cooperation with the focus on enhancement in training and meeting the equipment and infrastructure needs of Afghanistan National Security and Defence Forces (ANSDF) to increase their operational capabilities and mobility.
In a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday, the two leaders also agreed to expand opportunities for higher military education in India for Afghan officers, according to a Ministry of External Affairs news release in Delhi on Saturday.
Afghanistan has given a wish list of military equipment as well as sought greater cooperation in building up a battle-capable ANSDF and police. Mr. Karzai has already said it’s up to India to determine the schedule and type of equipment it can transfer to Afghanistan.
Besides defence and security, the two leaders also agreed to work with Iran for development of new trade routes to facilitate trade and transit to Afghanistan and beyond. One of these is a land route beginning from the Iranian port of Iran and entering Zaranj on the Afghan border from where India has built a road that feeds into the garland highway connecting the country’s major cities. A spur takes the route over the Afghan border in the north to Central Asia, thus opening up further prospects for India’s trade and economic drive in non-traditional markets.
During bilateral meeting, said the Foreign Office release, Mr. Karzai briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Afghanistan, including the ongoing security transition and its relations with other countries. On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had given an ‘idea about India’s thinking’ on the proposed US-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Arrangement by stating that it was against attempts to pressurise and would support any stand taken by Mr. Karzai.
The Prime Minister conveyed India’s confidence in Afghanistan’s ability to build a strong nation that also contributes to regional peace and prosperity. The two leaders also agreed to work on further strengthening regional cooperation and noted that India is hosting the next meeting of the Senior Officials of Heart of Asia in January.
Mr. Karzai also met President Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.
Mr. Mukherjee hosted President Karzai to a private dinner on Friday evening where the two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.
Mr. Karzai is accompanied by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zarar Ahmad Osmani, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Acting Minister of Commerce & Industries Shaker Kargar and other senior officials.
India, Afghanistan agree to enhance defence ties - The Hindu
In a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday, the two leaders also agreed to expand opportunities for higher military education in India for Afghan officers, according to a Ministry of External Affairs news release in Delhi on Saturday.
Afghanistan has given a wish list of military equipment as well as sought greater cooperation in building up a battle-capable ANSDF and police. Mr. Karzai has already said it’s up to India to determine the schedule and type of equipment it can transfer to Afghanistan.
Besides defence and security, the two leaders also agreed to work with Iran for development of new trade routes to facilitate trade and transit to Afghanistan and beyond. One of these is a land route beginning from the Iranian port of Iran and entering Zaranj on the Afghan border from where India has built a road that feeds into the garland highway connecting the country’s major cities. A spur takes the route over the Afghan border in the north to Central Asia, thus opening up further prospects for India’s trade and economic drive in non-traditional markets.
During bilateral meeting, said the Foreign Office release, Mr. Karzai briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Afghanistan, including the ongoing security transition and its relations with other countries. On Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had given an ‘idea about India’s thinking’ on the proposed US-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Arrangement by stating that it was against attempts to pressurise and would support any stand taken by Mr. Karzai.
The Prime Minister conveyed India’s confidence in Afghanistan’s ability to build a strong nation that also contributes to regional peace and prosperity. The two leaders also agreed to work on further strengthening regional cooperation and noted that India is hosting the next meeting of the Senior Officials of Heart of Asia in January.
Mr. Karzai also met President Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.
Mr. Mukherjee hosted President Karzai to a private dinner on Friday evening where the two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.
Mr. Karzai is accompanied by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zarar Ahmad Osmani, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Acting Minister of Commerce & Industries Shaker Kargar and other senior officials.
India, Afghanistan agree to enhance defence ties - The Hindu
