NEW DELHI, May 18:
Ahead of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s visit here next week, India today said it was ready to discuss and consider Afghanistan’s request for arms supplies, as and when raised.
Terming Afghanistan as a “strategically important” neighbour, the Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the two countries had mechanisms available to address all issues under Strategic Partnership Agreement.
“Our view is that there is a mechanism available, and all issues are discussed under this mechanism. And within our own modest means as a developing country, we will continue to discuss and respond to specific requests of the Afghan government,” he said.
“There are diplomatic channels available and we will consider these (requests) as and when they are raised in the channels which are available,” Akbaruddin added.
He was asked about Afghan Ambassador to India Shaida M Abdali’s request for enhanced defence ties with India, including supply of lethal and non-lethal military equipment.
Maintaining that in recent times India has focused on economic development of the war-torn country, the Spokesperson also said, “we realise that we cannot ignore political and security issues that stand in the way of realising that”.
India and Afghanistan have a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), inked in 2011, under which they have a Strategic Partnership Council which is headed by their foreign ministers, who met for the first time last year.
There are “four rubrics” under SPA, including political and security consultations. “That is the rubric under which all (Afghan requests) will fit, if there are issues to be raised in terms of security consultations,” he said.
The visit of Karzai, who will first travel to Punjab to receive an honorary doctorate from a private University, is his 12th trip to India since assuming office.
Apart from extensive developmental assistance programme, which now stands at around USD 2 billion, India also provides training in capacity building to 2000 Afghans every year.
Asked about various assessment made by West on the transition process in Afghanistan and about the capabilities of Afghan security personnel, sources termed it as “overly pessimistic” and said the forces- both Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police have “well-equipped” themselves.
They also said the international community should ensure that the Presidential polls to be held next year were free and fair. (PTI)
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