New Delhi: The External Affairs Ministry on June 24 said “India supports all peace initiatives in Afghanistan and has a long term commitment towards development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.”
“India remains in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries,” Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told media.
Earlier, The Foreign Minister of Pakistan comments on India’s role in Afghanistan, and to counter his comment Arindam Bagchi said, “India firmly believes that it is for the Afghan people to decide their partners and the size of that partnership.”
“India has brought electricity, dams, schools, health clinics, roads, and community projects to Afghanistan but the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan,” Bagchi added.
The spokesperson added that India desires normal relations with all neighbors including Pakistan. Bagchi said, “Pakistan must work towards creating a conducive atmosphere, including by taking credible, verifiable, and irreversible action to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border terrorism against India in any manner.”
On China, Bagchi added that “It is well recognized that Chinese actions have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility in the border areas over the last year.
“These acts violate bilateral agreements, including the 1993 and 1996 agreements that mandate that the two sides shall strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and that two sides will keep their military forces in the areas along the Line of Actual Control to a minimum level. Arindam Bagchi said.
Some Afghanistan-based international political experts have predicted that India and other countries’ relations with Afghanistan could be more challenging after to 100 percent withdrawal of the US armed forces from Afghanistan.