NEW DELHI (SW): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured his countries full and continuous support for Afghanistan on Tuesday as he addressed the press following a meeting with the visiting Afghan President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani.
Leading a large delegation of officials and businessmen, Ghani arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day official trip. Prime Minister Modi said India would continuo the journey started 14 years ago in partnership with the former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “We will continue this journey in partnership with President Ghani and his Naitonal Unity Government in partnership with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah
The Indian Premier asserted that Delhi’s support for a united, stable and democratic Afghanistan would not be limited for the period of transition or the decade of transformation, it is an enduring commitment, he said.
About the peace process in Afghanistan, he noted that India have a shared interest in the success of an “Afghan-led and Afghan owned process. “It should be conducted within the framework of Afghanistan’s constitution without the shadow of violence”, Modi said.
In a clear reference to Pakistan, the Indian Premier said it (peace process’s) success require a positive and constructive approach from neighbors.
Mr. Modi reiterated that his government was committed linking the landlocked-Afghanistan with India and the rest of the world via the Chabahar port in Iran and welcoming Afghanistan’s trucks at India’s eastern borders with Pakistan.
"We are ready to welcome Afghan trucks at the ICP Attari. We are also prepared to join the successor agreement to Afghan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement. This will re-establish one of the oldest trading routes of South Asia. I also reaffirmed my commitment to take the Chahbahar Port project in Iran forward. We will also quickly conclude a bilateral Motor Vehicles Agreement," the prime minister said.
The Afghan President said on the occasion that India and Afghanistan were bound by a million ties through a millennium. “The past here is the guide to future, other regions need to overcome their past in order to build their future, we can build our future based on appreciation of our past”, he said.
He emphasized upon the strategic and geographic importance of Afghanistan in terms of connecting South Asia with the Central and West Asian countries.
Afghanitan was determined to change regional nature of cooperation. “We must stand united, both in our region, and globally to continue this phenomenon”, he said.
President Ghani expressed his thanks for the gifting of three multi-role Cheetal helicopters from India in April 2015.
The two sides recalling their common rich cultural and historical legacy, where many faiths have peacefully co-existed over centuries, agreed to undertake joint programs to safeguard and preserve cultural and religious symbols of Afghanistan's rich history, including Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religious and archaeological sites.
While underlining the strength of their bilateral relations, the leaders acknowledged that peace, prosperity and security in the region was indivisible, and their mutually respectful relations are not at expense of other nations or group of nations.
The two leaders agreed to sign the following documents within three months of the visit:
Extradition Treaty between India and Afghanistan.
Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons between India and Afghanistan
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters
Bilateral Treaty for Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters between India and Afghanistan
Motor Vehicles Agreement For The Regulation Of Passenger, Personal And Cargo Vehicular Traffic Between India and Afghanistan.
MOU on Visa free entry for holders of diplomatic passports.
The President of Afghanistan thanked the President of India for the warmth, cordiality and gracious hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation during their stay in India.
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