India committed to greater regional integration: Asoke Mukerji

UNITED NATIONS: India has said it is open to joining and supporting regional initiatives, including the expansion of the Afghan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement, to ensure Afghanistan's greater integration into the South Asian region.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asoke Mukerji also voiced concern over the security situation in the country.

"Afghanistan will be able to achieve its optimal economic potential only if it is allowed freedom of transit to major markets in South Asia. We regret that this freedom continues to be denied to Afghanistan," Mukerji said at a debate on the security situation in Afghanistan in the UN General Assembly yesterday.

He said India has opened its markets to all Afghan exports, and is willing to receive Afghan trucks on its territory.

"India remains committed to greater regional integration, and is open to join and support all such regional initiatives, including the expansion of the Afghan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement," he said.