Stable Afghanistan, Iran Critical To Indiaˈs Energy Security: Khurshid

New Delhi, June 30, IRNA -- A stable Afghanistan and Iran are critical to Indiaˈs energy security as these two countries can provide greater access to Central Asian region which has abundance of hydrocarbon wealth, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said today. ˈWe are looking at re-energizing the national North-South Corridor to connect India with Central Asia and Russia through Iran, we are looking at trans-Afghan routes using Iranian port of Chahabar particularly to get access to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. We are looking at a rail link from Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan into Iran. ˈOf course, it does make Iran very critical. On the other hand, it makes Afghanistan very critical. Therefore, we hope that within our philosophical approach of being friends, we get Afghanistan back to a stable situation. Afghanistan will then become a bridge for us to Central Asia and Iran as well,ˈ Khurshid said addressing a three-day conference on Central Asia at the Kashmir University in Srinagar, pti reported. The Minister also expressed hope that Iran will be able to resolve its nuclear energy issues with the European Union. ˈ(When) Iran will be able to find a resolution with the European Union on the issue of nuclear energy so that Iran also becomes an important link between us and Central Asia. It will give us far greater access to Central Asia than we have now,ˈ he said. Khurshid said India has been closely watching the development related to the peace process in Afghanistan. ˈWe have been watching with care and close scrutiny the developments in Doha (Qatar) about the possibility of a conversation and dialogue between the ˈwillingˈ Taliban and High Peace Council of Afghanistan. ˈWe feel and we have said this to our friends, in the US and the European Union, that our collective decision which is very very strongly endorsed in Afghanistan that the peace talks must be Afghan led and Afghan controlled,ˈ he said. The Minister said it was not possible for anybody from outside to conjure a successful peace architecture for Afghanistan or any other part of the world. ˈI believe that the peace must come from within. Despite repeated invitations, India believes it must restrain itself to a point which is consistent with our philosophy and allow the Afghan people to choose their own destiny,ˈ he said. Khurshid said India will help in reconstruction and development of Afghanistan and expects the government in that country to deliver on issues like drug trafficking, religious extremism and fundamentalism. ˈWe will help them (Afghans) in completing the parliament building, which will be ready in three months. We will help them build the dams, we will help them build the roads but they must populate the Parliament with the voices of Afghan people. We shouldnˈt impose any preconceived notions of democracy. We can share our experiences but at the end it has to be their own decision,ˈ he said./end