India rejects America's 'exit strategy' for Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday strongly rejected an "exit strategy" for Afghanistan and called for "closest international support" to prevent decade-long achievements from going "waste" in the war-torn landlocked country, ahead of withdrawal of US-led international troops by the end of the year.

Addressing the day-long meeting of International Contact Group (ICG) on Afghanistan-Pakistan, attended by representatives from 53 countries besides international bodies in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Afghanistan was at a critical juncture and need continuous support from the international community.

Stressing that the focus of the international community should be on "terrorist groups and inspiration and support that they get from outside Afghanistan must be curtailed and contained", Khurshid said there should not be lack of will by international community to tackle the surge of terrorism and it should not be allowed to hide behind alibis and allow the achievements of 12 years to "go to waste" or "slip away".

He asserted that "India is and will remain committed to Afghanistan for all times to come, even beyond 2014 which is critical year for many.... People may have many strategies but one strategy India rejects is an exit strategy for Afghanistan." India had earlier opposed withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan till situation is back to normal there fearing that their exit will enable Pak-backed Taliban to increase attacks on assets.

Later, addressing a press meet, US Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan-Pakistan Laurel Miller said the US has been consistently maintaining that the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) should be signed promptly. "Our position remains that this agreement should be signed promptly," she said, adding, "If the agreement is not signed promptly, we, unfortunately, will be in a position in which we will need to plan for the possibility of having no military presence in Afghanistan after 2014. That is not an outcome that we desire."

The US wanted the BSA to be signed before the end of 2013, but Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai refused to ink the pact asking the US to first stop the searching and bombing of Afghan houses during military operations and support meaningful talks with Taliban led by only Afghan government. India wants BSA to safeguard Delhi's security interests in Afghanistan before it is inked.

Interestingly, India, Russia and China held a trilateral meeting today in Beijing on Afghanistan's security situation and discussed reemergence of Taliban and al-Qaeda linked elements.