India will continue to back Afghanistan's rebuilding: Salman Khurshid

NEW DELHI: India and Afghanistan dismissed doomsday scenario for the landlocked country after withdrawal of US troops next year, as New Delhi on Monday assured that it would stand by Kabul in “good and bad times”.

The Ministry of External Affairs, for second year in succession, is organising a two-day business conclave to change the narrative on Afghanistan.

There is a colossal investment and business opportunity in Afghanistan that needs to be unlocked to ensure a successful economic transition. The effort will be to change the narrative on Afghanistan away from terrorism, competition, to one involving economic growth and mutually-beneficial business opportunities. The event is one of the activities being organised by India as the lead country of trade, commerce and investment opportunities CBM under the ‘ Heart of Asia’ process.

Inaugurating the conclave co-organised by the Afghan foreign ministry, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid declared that India has an open arms approach to Afghanistan. “We hope that your confidence in yourself will reflect the confidence you repose in India…As the lead country in supporting Afghanistan’s nation building process, We have no exit policy and we will be with you for so long as you desire, in good times and bad times,” averred Khurshid outlining Delhi’s policy.

Khurshid pointed out on the question of success of Afghanistan efforts to re-build its institutions, “We should say that Afghanistan should succeed and express the confidence that Afghanistan will succeed.” The minister, to the surprise of the packed audience, invoked the 1961 Hindi film Kabuliwala to stress on the close links and trade ties between the two countries. “Our destinies are interlinked.” India, which has $2 billion worth development projects in Afghanistan, has no exit policy with regard to Afghanistan and would stay as long as it was needed, the minister assured.

Referring to the large number of Indian businessmen the minister said that it was important for Indian business to seize the enormous business opportunities in Afghanistan.

Afghan FM dumps doom talks

Afghanistan Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal has assured that his country would be more stable, unified and prosperous in 2014 and beyond.

“You cannot compare Afghanistan of today with that of 10 years ago.” He called upon the international business community not to be swayed by doomsday prediction of chaos in Afghanistan as the country was today undergoing three major transitions - security, political and economic.