He said that in the past 10 years terrorism has been the main obstacle to the reconstruction programme in Afghanistan. “We will work with the member countries in the region for ensuring peace and stability,” he said.

Delivering the 3rd RK Mishra Memorial Lecture organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), the Afghan President termed Pakistan as a “brother” and India “a great friend.” He said termed the strategic partnership inked by his country with India yesterday as “not directed against any other country,” but for the “betterment of Afghanistan.”

“We have decided not to talk to the Taliban leaders as we do not know their exact contacts. We have decided to talk to Pakistan to help us in resolving the acts of terrorism. Like Afghanistan Pakistan is under frequent terrorist attacks,” he said and added that India was also under occasional terror attacks and a great friend and can help to resolve the issue.

Karzai said that as the NATO peace keeping forces were slated to withdraw in 2014 and may be even earlier in 2013, Afghanistan would need the support from India, European Union, Saudi Arabia, US, China and from countries in the extended neighbourhood for maintenance of its peace and stability.

The strategic partnership signed between the two countries said : “India agrees to assist, as mutually determined, in the training, equipping and capacity building programmes for Afghan National Security Forces.”
He said that he would shortly hold discussions with his country’s traditional and grassroots body, Loya Jigra for ensuring peace and stability.

Karzai termed Afghanistan as a “central South Asian country” which can emerge as a trade, transportation and energy hub connecting Central and South Asia and enabling free and more unfettered transport and transit linkages.

He described South Asia as a more assembled and culturally united region with intra traditional linkages than any other groupings in the world.

He lauded India for $2.5 billion assistance for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and 2000 ICCR and ITEC scholarships for Afghan students under going study and training in India. India is also exploring avenues to expand scholarships for Afghan students in medical, engineering and management institutes.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh in a statement said “India will participate in the forthcoming conferences in Istanbul and Bonn to contribute to international and regional initiatives to support Afghanistan’s efforts at nation building. The greatest need today is for the Afghan people to have peace and stability. All countries of the region must work to facilitate this.”

The India External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna said that the New Silk Route Initiative would make Afghanistan a transist and trading hub.

Apart from an agreement on strategic partnership, two MoUs were signed yesterday between the two countries on cooperation in development of hydrocarbons and mineral resources.

The bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, includes oil and gas. It envisages cooperation in the areas of exploration, production, infrastructure, research & training and promotion of private and public sector investment in development of hydrocarbons including oil and natural gas.

The bilateral MoU signed between the two governments in mineral sector aims at promotion of private and public sector investment in mining and mining-related activities; mineral exploration & exploitation and capacity building in the field of geosciences and mining in Afghanistan.

The strategic partnerships signed between the two countries has spelt areas for political and security cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, capacity building and education, social, cultural, civil society and people-to-people relations and implementation mechanism.

This Strategic Partnership would be implemented under the framework of a Partnership Council, which will be headed by the Foreign Ministers of both countries. The Council will convene annual meetings. The Council will consist of separate Joint Working Groups on Political and Security Consultations, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Capacity Development & Education, and Social, Cultural and Civil Society, involving high level representatives from concerned Ministries/Authorities. The existing dialogue mechanisms between the two sides will become part of the Council.

The Strategic Partnership also called for securing reform and expansion of the UN Security Council, including a permanent seat for India in the Council. It urged for cooperation to enhance respective and mutual efforts in fight against international terrorism, organised crime, illegal trafficking in narcotics, money laundering, diversifying cooperation in agriculture, rural development, healthcare, mining, industry, energy, information technology, communications, transport, including civil aviation.

It called for promoting trade and investment and cooperation in banking and finance and improving credit and insurance facilities, focus on regional infrastructure projects. India has committed to expand the ongoing Small Development Projects for grassroots level development in the remote and rural areas in Afghanistan.