Statement to the media by PM during visit of President Karzai
October 04, 2011
His Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
Distinguished members of the media
I am delighted to welcome His Excellency the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai to India.
President
Karzai's visit takes place soon after my own visit to Afghanistan in
May. This reflects the tradition of regular high level exchanges that so
happily exists between our two countries.
My
discussions today with President Karzai have once again underlined the
importance of a strong and broad based partnership between India and
Afghanistan.
Our
cooperation with Afghanistan is an open book. We have civilizational
links, and we are both here to stay. We have to live and work together
in times both good and bad.
Based
on intensive consultations and deliberations, we have finalized an
Agreement on a Strategic Partnership between India and Afghanistan which
the President and I have signed today. The Agreement creates an
institutional framework for our future cooperation in the fields of
political and security cooperation, trade and economic cooperation,
capacity building and education, and social, cultural, civil society and
people-to-people relations.
We
have also concluded two Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation in
Mining and Hydrocarbons. These wilI add a new dimension to our economic
relations.
We
both agree that Afghanistan's economic integration with the Indian
economy and South Asia as a whole is in the national interest of the
people of Afghanistan, and one of the ways to achieve this is to promote
closer trade, investment and transit links.
I
reiterated to the President that India stands by the people of
Afghanistan in their journey towards capacity building, reconstruction,
development and peace. We will do all that is within our means to help
Afghanistan.
We
had detailed and frank discussions on the issue of terrorism. This
threatens our entire region, and no country can remain immune to its
lethal effects.
I
conveyed our sympathy and condolences to the Government and people of
Afghanistan on the acts of terrorism that have taken place in
Afghanistan recently, particularly the tragic assassination of Professor
Burhanuddin Rabbani. Professor Rabbani was our guest in India in July
and we were greatly encouraged by his vision. His brutal assassination
should serve as an occasion for all of us to strengthen our resolve to
jointly confront the menace of terrorism that threatens to undermine the
security and stability of our region.
The
people of Afghanistan have suffered enough. They deserve to live in
peace and decide their future themselves, without outside interference,
coercion and intimidation.
It
is in this context that India will participate in the forthcoming
conferences in Istanbul and Bonn to contribute to international and
regional initiatives to support Afghanistan's efforts at nation
building. The greatest need today is for the Afghan people to have peace
and stability. All countries of the region must work to facilitate
this.
India
will stand by the people of Afghanistan as they prepare to assume the
responsibility for their governance and security after the withdrawal of
international forces in 2014.
I
pay tribute to the sagacious leadership of President Karzai in seeking
solutions that are inclusive and led by the Afghan people themselves. He
has shown great courage in very difficult circumstances.
I
look forward to working with President Karzai and his Government in the
period ahead to further advance our relations across a wide
spectrum.
Thank you.
New Delhi
October 4, 2011
