Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) Amid souring relations between Islamabad and Kabul, India and Afghanistan Tuesday signed a defining pact to forge an all-embracing strategic partnership that will entail an annual security dialogue and expanded cooperation to combat terror emanating from Pakistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is here on a two-day visit, held “detailed and frank discussions on terrorism”, officials said.

Afghanistan shared its findings with India on the complicity of Pakistani spy agency ISI in recent terror attacks in Afghanistan, including the assassination of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, Karzai’s chief interlocutor with the Taliban.

In a move that is set to annoy Islamabad, India formally expressed its intention to “assist, as mutually determined, in the training, equipping and capacity building programmes for Afghan National Security Forces”.

However, Indian officials said this was part of the continuing training programme.

Signalling their resolve to partner in peace and development, Manmohan Singh and Karzai inked an strategic partnership agreement that seeks to incrementally accelerate their ties across a broad spectrum of areas.

The pact envisages an annual security dialogue between the national security advisers that will focus on a joint fight against international terrorism, organized crime, and illegal trafficking in narcotics. The pact outlines annual summits and meetings between foreign ministers.

“India will stand by the people of Afghanistan as they prepare to assume the responsibility for their governance and security after the withdrawal of international forces in 2014,” Manmohan Singh said.

He stressed that “India will do all it can to help Afghanistan”.

Manmohan Singh also outlined India’s decision to enhance assistance in the fields of capacity building in agriculture, health and education, key priorities for Afghanistan.

Describing India as “a steadfast friend”, Karzai updated new on his evolving strategy to continue Taliban reconciliation process and attempts by Pakistan to control the future dispensation in Kabul.

In a clear reference to Pakistan, Karzai said Afghanistan “recognizes the danger this region is facing through terrorism and radicalism that (are) being used an instrument of state policy against civilians and innocents of our countries”.

The strategic partnership pact envisages the setting up of a Partnership Council, headed by their foreign ministers, which will be the nodal body for coordinating the strategic partnership.

The council will convene annual meetings.

The two sides also signed pacts for cooperation in mining and hydrocarbons and agreed on a host of initiatives to increase trade and investment to make Afghanistan “a trade, transportation and energy hub connecting Central and South Asia”.

Neither Manmohan Singh nor Karzai mentioned Pakistan by name, but made implicit references to Islamabad while talking about the need to defeat “outside interference”.

“Terrorism threatens our entire region, and no country can remain immune to its lethal effects,” said Manmohan Singh, adding that the people of Afghanistan “deserve to live in peace and decide their future themselves, without outside interference, coercion and intimidation.”

Karzai’s visit to India takes place amid worse relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan on one hand and between Islamabad and Washington on the other.

Underlining India’s statement to stay engaged with Afghanistan, Manmohan Singh said India will participate in the forthcoming conferences in Istanbul and Bonn.