Rao roots for strong tie-up with Tehran on Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: As the crisis in Afghanistan deepens, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said that Iran and India should move beyond “articulation of positions” on Afghanistan.

The foreign secretary’s comments, which comes ahead of the India-Iran joint commission meeting, reflect India’s desire to make common cause with Iran on Afghanistan in a rapidly changing matrix. “...We need to move beyond mere articulation of positions as the Afghan conundrum deepens and could have a deleterious impact on our two countries and the region in case the forces of extremism and obscurantism are made arbiters of the fate of the Afghan people,” she said.

Saying India and Iran have “suffered from the threat of transnational terrorism” from across the border, she said: “Neither of our countries wish to see the prospect of fundamentalist and extremist groups once again suppressing the aspirations of the Afghan people and forcing Afghanistan back to being a training ground and sanctuary for terrorist groups.”

Pinpointing the exact nature of the cooperation, Ms Rao said cooperation and information-sharing on counter-terrorism between the two countries should be increased and sought structured, systematic and regular consultations with Iran on the Afghanistan situation.

Indian concerns have grown as the crisis in Afghanistan deepens and Pakistan attempts to push for greater strategic depth by playing an active role in the Taliban reconciliation and reintegration plan. In this scenario India sees Iran as a potential ally in the region.

India has large stakes in Afghanistan but does not have much say or role in the unfolding US and Nato strategy in Afghanistan. Indian contribution is restricted to reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. In this backdrop, Ms Rao expressed India’s desire to increase the pace of work on the Chabahar Port and improve connectivity to the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, which would give India a key access point into Afghanistan.

“These are projects that are in the common interest of India, Iran and Afghanistan, and also the countries of Central Asia. Improving the connectivity of Chabahar Port to the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, which was built with Indian assistance despite terrorist threats and with the sacrifice of Indian and Afghan lives, will open up the Indian market to Afghan agricultural and other exports,” she said.