By KUNA,
New Delhi : Notwithstanding the mindless terror attack on its mission in Kabul, India Monday announced a fresh development assistance of USD 450 million for Afghanistan and described the suicide strike as an attack on Indo-Afghan friendship. Describing the July 7 suicide attack on Indias Kabul embassy as an attack on Indo-Afghan friendship, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asserted that it would not prevent New Delhi from continuing its reconstruction programme in Afghanistan and declared a fresh assistance worth USD 450 million for it.
The announcement was made after visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai held wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and global issues with Dr Manmohan Singh here today. India’s expanding partnership with Afghanistan covers virtually all sectors ranging from infrastructure to medical services and community-based small sectors. India already has given assistance worth USD 850 million to Afghanistan and has expressed readiness to contribute more. India is Afghanistan’s fifth largest donor after the US, UK, Japan and Germany. The suicide attack on India’s Kabul mission, increase in Taliban-led violence and India’s assistance programme in Afghanistan were understood to have dominated the agenda of the talks, a source in the Indian External Affairs Ministry told reporters. “The talks were held against the backdrop of threats by terrorism to security and stability of Afghanistan, India and the region,” the source stressed. Earlier this morning, President Karzai was given a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential House here. Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta and National Security Advisor Zalmai Rassoul are accompanying the Afghan President, who arrived here last night from Colombo after attending the 15th SAARC summit. Addressing a joint press meet following the talks, Dr Manmohan Singh said the two leaders agreed to fight terrorism unitedly and with firm determination.
“We have decided that they will not allow terrorism to stand in the way of the boosting the friendly relations between their countries,” he added.
President Karzai’s visit was taking place at a critical juncture in India, Afghanistan and the region, the Indian PM stressed. “The attack on our embassy in Kabul on July 7 has tragically shown that terrorism has no barriers and is not bound by restraints,” he added. Slamming the attack on Indias Kabul Embassy as well as the serial bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, Karzai said Afghanistan and India face the same challenge of terrorism and cold-blooded murderous activities. “The two countries as also the world at large have no option but to be united in the fight against terrorism as it is our moral responsibility as human beings to protect the people,” the Afghan President noted. Both India and Afghanistan have pointed to the role of Pakistan’s ISI in the Kabul mission attack, which had killed 54 including diplomats. Pakistan had assured India to conduct a probe into New Delhi’s assertions.
Addressing the SAARC summit last Saturday, President Karzai had said, “Terrorism is gaining a deeper grip in Pakistan… While existing on the absolute fringes of our tolerant and peace loving societies, terrorists in our region receive institutional nurturing and support.” Indian President Pratibha Patil will host a banquet for her Afghan counterpart this evening. Vice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) L K Advani are expected to call on the visiting dignitary during the course of the day, the source informed.