Afghanistan, India’s friendship antiquated, “bound by a thousand ties”: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who received a warm embrace and welcome by Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in Afghan Presidential Palace on Friday said that Afghanistan and India friendship will always be stable.

Narendra Modi called for an end to cross border terrorism while inaugurating a new parliament building in Afghanistan.

Without naming Pakistan, Modi said in an address to the parliament here: “Afghanistan will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border; when nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism are shut and their patrons are no longer in business.

“Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make,” he said.

PM Modi declared that some countries have tried to prevent Afghan-India’s friendship but his country proud to stay beside Afghanistan and continue its long-term cooperation to this country.

“There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. Some even tried to discourage us.”

He said that “those waging war from outside must seek a path to this building and this hall”.

The Indian prime minister said that Afghanistan’s success would require the cooperation and support of each of its neighbors.

“And, all of us in the region – India, Pakistan, Iran and others – must unite, in trust and cooperation, behind this common purpose and in recognition of our common destiny,” he said.

Modi also expressed the hope that Pakistan would “become a bridge between South Asia and Afghanistan and beyond”.

Narendra Modi saluted people of Afghanistan for having faith in India and not judge it by others tell them, including about the mysterious Indian consulates, in anotehr veiled dig at Pakistan.

“You never doubted the sincerity of our commitment and the strength of our friendship. And, you have seen the fruits of our partnership,” he said, adding, “You have judged us by what you see, not what others tell you, including about the mysterious Indian consulates.” Pakistan has long alleged that India was fomenting trouble in its Balochistan province through Indian consulates in Kandahar and Jalalabad.

“You know that India is here to contribute not to compete; to lay the foundations of future, not light the flame of conflict; to rebuild lives, not destroy a nation.”A joint statement issued after a meeting between Modi and Ghani said that Afghanistan needed to eliminate terrorism perpetrated from “sanctuaries and safe havens” for peace while identifying terrorism, narcotics and extremism as “serious challenges”.

“Strongly condemning the barbaric incidents of terrorism in Afghanistan in recent months, the two leaders reiterated that peace in Afghanistan required elimination of terrorism perpetrated and supported from sanctuaries and safe havens,” the statement said.

The Indian Prime Minister’s day-long visit, his first to Afghanistan, since taking office – was not officially announced for security reasons.