India reaffirms commitment to partnership with Afghanistan

New Delhi, Sep 15 (PTI) Notwithstanding the continued
security threat in Afghanistan, India has reiterated its
long-term commitment to partnership with the war-torn country.
This was conveyed by Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan
Mathai during his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai,
who emphasised that terrorism and extremism posed a threat to
not only the two countries but to the entire region and the
world at large.
The reiteration came a day after the blast in Kabul in
which five Afghan policemen and 11 civilians, including
children were killed. Both countries have condemned the
attack.
Mathai, who led a delegation to Kabul for Foreign Office
Consultations between India and Afghanistan, also met other
senior Afghan government leaders including Marshal Qasem
Fahim, First Vice President, Abdul Karim Khalili, Second Vice
President, Zalmai Rassoul, Foreign Minister, a release from
the Ministry of External Affairs said.
He also met Dadfar Rangeen Spanta, National Security
Advisor and Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Mines.
On his first visit to Afghanistan after assuming office,
Mathai reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with
his counterpart Jawed Ludin, Deputy Foreign Minister, apart
from regional and global issues of mutual interest.
"Both sides expressed their continuing commitment to the
strategic partnership between the two countries which would
enhance regional cooperation.
"The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister emphasised the
importance of India's role in the forthcoming Istanbul and
Bonn Conferences on Afghanistan later this year," it said.