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Peace in Afghanistan a must for economic recovery: Kovind

Peace in Afghanistan a must for economic recovery: Kovind

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said securing sustained peace and security remain the key fundamentals in leading Afghanistan on the pathway of economic recovery and growth. Mr Kovind made the remarks in his welcome address to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani when the latter met him at Rashtrapati Bhavan here. Mr Kovind expressed admiration for the "astute leadership" that Mr Ghani has provided to Afghanistan through difficult times. He commended Mr Ghani for strengthening bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan. He said, "Unfortunately, mindless and senseless violence is being imposed on the people of Afghanistan." Mr Kovind strongly condemned recent terror attacks in Afghanistan, including in the provinces of Kabul, Kandahar, Ghazni and Paktia, that have resulted in over 200 innocent people being killed. For India, Afghanistan is not just a strategic partner, but a nation that "evokes endearing affection", according to an official statement here. He recalled Mr Ghani’s speech at the Heart of Asia Summit in Amritsar in December 2016 and his visit to the Golden Temple. He added that civilisational links and people-to-people contacts provide a strong foundation to the ever-growing friendship. He said in recent times, the two countries have deepened their strategic partnership. "The India-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Show in New Delhi brought our businessmen together and generated business worth over 200 million dollars," he said. Mr Kovind also expressed happiness at the opening of the air freight corridor between Kandahar and Kabul and Delhi. He also noted that the Afghan cities of Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat have been connected directly by air to Delhi. The visit of Mr Ghani is crucial as it also coincides with the three-day India visit of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who arrives later in the evening. During his talks with the Afghan President in Kabul on Monday, Mr Tillerson stressed on the need to take efforts to destroy "terror havens". India is a leading development aid partner for terror-devastated Afghanistan but the government has maintained that it will not send troops. Mr Tillerson's visit beginning later on Tuesday evening and the ongoing visit of Mr Ghani brings into focus the spurt in violence in Afghanistan and also developmental works in the country. US President Donald Trump in August had outlined Washington's 'new strategy' for South Asia. During his talks with Mr Ghani in Kabul on Monday, Mr Tillerson stressed on the need to take efforts to destroy "terror havens". Mr Kovind said India itself has been victim of state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism for decades. "We can fully empathise with the ongoing quest of the Afghan people to secure peace. India believes that whatever initiatives are taken for bringing peace in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled." UNI DEVN SW 1434

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