Deputy Chief of Mission Haidari Meets Congress Leader Mani Shankar Aiyar

New Delhi: - Deputy Chief of Mission M. Ashraf Haidari called on the Honorable Mani Shankar Aiyar, one of the key leaders of the Indian National Congress Party and a member of the Indian parliament, at his residence in New Delhi on February 21, 2014. Mr. Haidari extended to Mr. Aiyar the profound gratitude of the Afghan people and government for the continued support the people of India have provided for the long-term development and stabilization of Afghanistan. Mr. Haidari also noted with appreciation the personal friendship of Mr. Aiyar with the Afghan people, recalling his visionary leadership to advance regional cooperation for peace and prosperity. He pointed out that normalization of relations between India and Pakistan would not only be good for the two countries but also for the stability and prosperity of the entire region, particularly landlocked Afghanistan, whose security and economic growth depend on an enabling regional environment where win-win relations are pursued against zero-sum designs.

Mr. Aiyar praised President Karzai’s peace efforts, saying that only Afghans could restore peace in their country. Mr. Haidari noted that peace was the desire of every Afghan, and President Karzai had established a peace and reconciliation commission as early as 2003, which was not supported by leading NATO countries with forces in Afghanistan. And now, he noted, Afghanistan needs the sincere cooperation of Pakistan with the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process where only Afghans talk to Afghans to secure their country through a results-oriented political dialogue, completely free from external interference and influence.

The Honorable Mani Shankar Aiyar has previously served in a number of union ministerial positions in the Congress-led cabinets including: Panchayati Raj; Petroleum and Natural Gas; Youth Affairs and Sports and; Development of the North East Region. In 1989-91, he served as the Special Assistant to former Congress President the late Rajiv Gandhi. Before running for elected office, he served in the Indian Foreign Service. In 2006, he was awarded the “Outstanding Parliamentarian Award.”