India, US to regularly consult on Afghanistan

India and the United States reiterated their shared interest in building a secure and stable Afghanistan and pledged to consult each other regularly on their activities in the country.

It is in our common interest that the people of Afghanistan succeed in their reconstruction and development efforts without outside interference, in an atmosphere free from violence and extremism. Afghanistans success is vital for the security and stability of the region, the two countries said in a joint statement at the conclusion of strategic dialogue in Washington on Thursday.

Afghanistan was a major topic of discussion between delegations of the two countries, led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indias External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.

Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna reiterated their shared interest and commitment to a stable, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan. They reiterated the importance of a sustained international commitment to Afghanistan that builds local capacities through Afghan-led initiatives, the statement said.

Earlier in her opening remarks at the start of the dialogue, Clinton praised Indias role in Afghanistan.

India’s contributions to Afghanistan’s future — including $1.3 billion in assistance — have been positive and significant. India is building Afghanistan’s new parliament building. And Indian and American groups are working together to help Afghan engineers bring greater source of electricity to Kabul, she said.

Addressing a joint press conference with Clinton later in the day, Krishna said India and the US have a shared goal of a stable, peaceful, pluralistic and democratic Afghanistan which protects the rights and dignity of all sections of society.

We agreed on the importance of avoiding choices that lead us to the dark alleys of the 1990s, and the importance of safeguarding the gains and progress that have been made since then, especially with regard to the position and rights of women in Afghanistan, Krishna said.

Speaking about President Hamid Karzais plan to reintegrate low-level Taliban, a mechanism for which has been debated over the past two days in the Afghan capital by about 1,400 delegates, Krishna said there was no objection to working with them, as long as they renounced violence and supported the Afghan government.

India and Afghanistan have a very close relationship, he said. Our contribution in Afghanistan is of a very constructive nature. It is not military driven. It is development driven.