Kabul: Afghanistan tonight assured India
that it would take all possible steps to ensure the safety and
security of its citizens, who are engaged in developmental
work in the war-torn country.
On its part, India expressed full support for
President Hamid Karzai`s efforts to usher in peace, stability
and development in Afghanistan, which is witnessing an upsurge
in terror attacks by the Taliban.
The message was conveyed by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during his 45-minute meeting with Karzai at the
fortified Presidential Palace here.
Krishna, who is here to attend the International
Conference on Afghanistan tomorrow, reiterated India`s support
for President Karzai`s efforts to bring about peace, stability
and development in Afghanistan during the meeting, External
Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
"The meeting was very useful and cordial," he said,
adding that during the 45-minute meeting, the two sides
conducted extensive exchange of views on bilateral ties and
issues of common interests.
Later, Krishna met Afghan National Security Adviser Dr
Rangin Dadfar Spanta and sensitised him about the security
challenges faced by Indians in Afghanistan, sources said.
Responding to this, Spanta assured Krishna that the
Afghan Government will take all possible steps to ensure the
security of "Indian guests", who are playing an important role
in the country`s capacity building, the sources said.
The assurance assumes significance in the wake of
recent attacks by Taliban on Indians in Afghanistan. Seven
Indians were killed on February 26 when Taliban attackers
stormed guest houses in central Kabul, frequented by Indians.
The Indian Embassy in Kabul was attacked twice by the
Taliban in July 2008 and in October 2009. Notwithstanding the
attacks, India has been maintaining that it would continue to
carry out developmental work in Afghanistan.
Krishna, who will speak at tomorrow`s conference, also
conveyed the greetings from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
the people of India to Karzai.
Earlier, warmly welcoming Krishna, Karzai said: "Warm
welcome to you my friend," and the two also talked about the
progress of monsoon in India.
The two leaders engaged in animated talks about the
monsoon and rainfall in both countries and how it impacted
their agricultural growth.
Tomorrow`s conference, which will be attended by
nearly 60 world leaders including US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, will discuss Afghanistan`s future and chart
out security and developmental needs of the war-torn country.
The meeting will take place amid a spurt in suicide
bombings and attacks by Taliban on US-led NATO forces, which
has suffered the deadliest single month in June when its 79
soldiers died.
PTI
