Deputy Chief of Mission M. Ashraf Haidari spoke at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) this past Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Mr. Haidari discussed the topic of “Afghanistan-India Relations: Transition and Prospects for Post-2014 Cooperation,” providing the think-tank’s experts with an overview of the situation in Afghanistan and the country’s relations with neighboring countries.
Mr. Haidari highlighted Afghanistan’s 11-year achievements in the areas of security, governance and rule of law, economic growth, as well as a number of challenges confronting the country. He expressed the gratitude of the Afghan government and people to the international community for their continued support, which he noted was critical to the stabilization and longer-term development of Afghanistan.
In this light, Mr. Haidari discussed the importance of India’s ongoing multifaceted contributions to the process of state-building and reconstruction in the country, on the basis of the Afghanistan-India Strategic Partnership Agreement. He referred to the Joint Statement released at the conclusion of the recent State Visit by President Karzai to India, highlighting the scope of multidimensional cooperation between India and Afghanistan now and beyond 2014.
Mr. Haidari's remarks ended with an hour-long Q&A; discussion with the experts, who expressed concern about post-2014 Afghanistan. However, Mr. Haidari noted that there was not much cause for concern, since the allies of Afghanistan in the region and beyond firmly remained committed to the country and to Afghans’ desire for consolidation of their 11-year achievements towards institutionalization of peace, pluralism, and prosperity in their country. This he pointed out would ensure stability in Afghanistan, in turn bolstering regional security, which is necessary for the realization of the vision of all regional economic cooperation organizations, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Visa Section:
General: