NEW DELHI: Sending a stern message to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Wednesday asked it end to all support and safe havens to terrorists and decided to strengthen security and defence cooperation.
During bilateral talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani expressed grave concern at continued use of terrorism for achieving political objectives in the region as the two leaders had extensive discussions on the regional and bilateral issues.
Following delegation-level talks between the two sides at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, a joint statement said, “The Prime Minister offered that, as a close neighbour and friend of Afghanistan and its people, India would allocate a sum of $1 billion.”
After the talks, the two sides inked three agreements—an extradition treaty, cooperation in civil and commercial matters, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Stressing that elimination of all forms of terrorism, without any discrimination, was essential, the leaders called upon “the concerned” to put an end to all sponsorship, support, safe havens and sanctuaries to terrorists, including for those who target Afghanistan and India. However, they did not name Pakistan.
Asked if India agreed to Afghanistan’s long-pending demand for stepped-up defence supply, Jaishankar said, “Both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to counter terrorism and strengthen security and defence cooperation as envisaged in the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement”. Jaishankar also talked about India’s offer of supplying 1.75 lakh tonne of wheat to Afghanistan, which was suffering shortage. India wanted to supply it and made a request “months back” to Pakistan for the transit, he said, adding “we have not received any response”.