By IANS,
New Delhi : India Tuesday voiced concerns at repeated terror attacks in Afghanistan and agreed to elevate bilateral ties to the level of strategic partnership to bolster their joint fight fight terrorism.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday called on visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai here and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral and regional issues, including terror and ways to intensify economic ties.
Karzai began his two-day visit to India, his second trip to the country this year, in the morning amid growing shared concerns about Pakistan’s continuing support to Afghan Taliban and proxies like the Haqqani network.
Karzai comes at a time when Afghanistan is yet again reeling under terror attacks, Krishna told reporters here after his talks with Karzai.
He voiced India’s concern at the recent assassinations of Karzai’s half-brother Ahmed Wali Karzai and Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghanistan’s chief interlocutor with the Taliban.
“These two assassinations are a reminder not only to Afghanistan but also India and the region that we will have to do more in terms of strengthening our strategy to fight terror,” he said.
Krishna said the two countries will be signing a strategic partnership agreement later in the evening after talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.