PM Modi reiterates support to Afghan’s fight against terror

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday promised strong support to the Afghanistan's fight against terrorism.

While receiving Afghan foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Modi said India attaches the highest priority to its ties with Afghanistan and also reiterated India's full support to the government and people of Afghanistan, including through humanitarian and development assistance, in their efforts to build a peaceful, united, democratic and prosperous nation, a PMO statement said.

During the meeting, Rabbani briefed the prime minister on the situation in Afghanistan.

"Both agreed that the Afghan peace process has to be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled," the statement said.

It said Modi affirmed that India attaches the highest priority to its ties with Afghanistan. "The prime minister reiterated India's strong support to Afghanistan in fighting terrorism imposed on that country and its people," the statement added.

The statement did not elaborate on the issue of "terrorism imposed" on Afghanistan but it was an apparent reference to trouble fomented by Pakistan in that country.

Afghanistan has been saying that terrorism in that country emanates from Pakistan where the "safe havens" exist with the patronage of the Pakistani Army.

Rabbani is in India for the 2nd meeting of the India- Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council that he co-chairs along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Earlier, after the Strategic Partnership Council meeting, Rabbani said India and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen security cooperation.

PTI