Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) India and Afghanistan will discuss recent developments in the region, in the context of the killing of Al-qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, as well as its fall-out on the “common fight against the scourge of terrorism”.

This will be part of “wide-ranging discussions” between the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai when the former travels to Kabul on a long-awaited visit.

“I look forward to wide ranging discussions with President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan leadership on ways to advance our partnership to a new level in the coming years. We will also exchange views on developments in the region and our common fight against the scourge of terrorism,” said Prime Minister Singh in his departure statement released Wednesday.

He added that the Afghan people’s quest “for peace, stability and reconciliation needs the full support of all countries in the region and the international community”.

He will be visiting Afghanistan after a gap of six years. Karzai has already come here ten times since 2002.

Stating that the two countries enjoy “deep and abiding relationship” going back into history, Singh asserted as both belong to the same region, India “cannot remain unaffected by developments in Afghanistan.”

“We take a long-term view of our partnership with Afghanistan,” he added.

Talks between Singh and Karzai will naturally centre on the fallout of the killing of bin Laden by US naval commandos in Pakistan May 2.

“Obviously, situation post killing is a concern for us. We would like to hear President Karzai’s views (on this),” knowledgeable sources said.

While there had been speculation that the coalition forces, led by the US, will start reducing their troop levels from this summer, Indian officials do not think it will happen so soon.

“As far as US presence is concerned, no statements from their side seems to indicate that they are leaving,” said the sources.

Further, they pointed out, that the operational capacity of the Afghan Taliban and other groups based in Pakistan doesn’t seem to have been much affected or deflated by Osama’s killing, as seen by the siege of government buildings in Kandahar this weekend.

In fact, most regional players at a breakfast meeting hosted by Turkey Wednesday - also attended by India - wanted US troops to continue to be at their current level, while building up the capacity of the Afghan security forces.

“The central Asian countries, especially, at the meeting were insistent that US troops should remain as a guarantor of stability,” said the sources.

The prime minister is also set to convey the assurance that India will not reduce its development assistance to Afghanistan, under any circumstance.

“If our region has to prosper and move ahead, Afghanistan must succeed in rebuilding itself. Its people have suffered far too long. India’s commitment to assisting the people of Afghanistan is enduring and has weathered many storms,” said Singh, adding that, “What is heartening is the support it enjoys among the Afghan people”.

India is the sixth largest donor to the country, giving development assistance worth about $1.5 billion annually.

Some of the Indian projects, especially on road construction, had been the target of attacks in the past. Indian installations and personnel in Afghanistan have been under high security after being targeted several times by the Afghan Taliban.

“Our assistance to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development is not contingent on presence and absence of foreign troops,” said the sources.

Manmohan Singh is expected to take with him a slew of gifts, especially an increase in sponsorship for community projects and scholarships for students.

Private sector investment will be another area of discussion, especially with 15 Indian companies vying for a share of Afghanistan’s lucrative Hajigak iron mine.

“We encourage such (private sector) participation in these big projects.. we have to now see how to develop a consortia,” said sources, noting the Afghan government has assured that the security concerns of private investors will be met.