New York, Sept 25: India has reaffirmed its strong support for Afghan reconstruction and emphasised the need to firmly implement the 'Kabul declaration on good neighbourly relations' indicating that "subversion" is being attempted against the country's stabilisation with outside support. Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, speaking at a high level ad hoc meeting on Afghanistan, pointed out that despite India's own constraints, its present commitments add up to USD 270 million, including one million tons of wheat.
Listing all the projects supported by India, Sibal noted that these projects, in partnership with the Afghan government, cover a variety of sectors, including road transportation, airlines, health, education, police, judiciary, agriculture, information technology and telecommunications among others.
India has also initiated work on some major infrastructure projects in power transmission, hydroelectricity, irrigation and road construction.
The convening of the group aiding Afghanistan at this time, he said, is testimony to the fact that there are increasing concerns as challenges are being mounted against the government of Afghanistan, and "subversion is being attempted against the process of stability and reconstruction, unfortunately with support and sponsorship from outside, not dissimilar to what happened in the past".
It is time, Sibal emphasized, that the 'Kabul declaration on good neighburly relations' is implemented firmly.
Sibal congratulated president Karzai on the achievements of Afghanistan since the last meeting. India, he said, looks forward to the constitution-making process and elections next year.
Bureau Report