Amid discomfort in India over the rapprochement by the new government in Afghanistan with Pakistan, Kabul on Saturday expressed “surprise” at the level of apprehension in India in this regard and reassured New Delhi, asking it India to “stay the course.”
Speaking at the Vivekananda International Foundation, Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive (CE) of Afghanistan, expressed “surprise” and said: “We expect India to stay the course and be sure that nothing will shake the foundations of friendly relations of the two countries.” Dr. Abdullah stated that the two countries were bound by common objectives for a stable Afghanistan and thanked India for its constant support.
On the upcoming visit of Mr. Ashraf Ghani to India, Dr. Abdullah said, “the different facets of the Strategic Framework agreement with India would be reactivated” during the visit.
China’s role
Former President Hamid Karzai had initiated China’s role in talks with the Taliban to “encourage Pakistan to cooperate in achieving peace in Afghanistan,” the CE said.
Links:
[1] http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/abdullah-asks-india-to-stay-the-course/article6994773.ece