Friday, August 26 2005 17:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Kabul on Sunday, India said today (Aug 26, 2005) that they offered full support to Afghanistan, including strengthening its security capabilities, to effectively deal with the "newly-emerging threat" from Taliban operating from Pakistan.

It would also undertake developmental projects worth five million US dollars in the war-ravaged country. Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters that they keen to develop trade and expand reconstruction work in the country but these efforts were being hampered by denial of transit facility by Pakistan.

"We want Afghanistan to emerge as a democratic, independent, sovereign country, in full mastery of its own destiny. It is in our interest to ensure that Afghanistan does not once again become a kind of a centre of extremism or terrorism. Anything that threatens Afghanistan's stability is a matter of concern for us," he said.

Stability of Afghanistan continues to be threatened by activities of "remnant Taliban" operating from Pakistan and added that India was ready to expand support in the area of security if Kabul sought it.

Citing some recent incidents, Saran exclaimed that insurgents are coming in from Pakistan and indulging in violent acts in Afghanistan. Thus, they have offered full support to Afghanistan in dealing with this newly-emerging threat to their political stability. The Prime Minister, during his two-day tour, will announce new developmental projects worth US $50 million to be undertaken by India and expansion of ongoing programmes and scholarships to take the assistance to a higher level, said Saran. India is already funding reconstruction projects to the tune of US $500 million.

Asserting that India was keen to help Afghanistan in reconstruction of its economy, infrastructure and human resource, the Foreign Secretary said denial of transit facility by Pakistan was posing a "big constraint".

"Part of the difficulty to reach Afghanistan is that we have to use the circuitous route through Iran as there is no transit facility through Pakistan. This will continue to be a big constraint," he said. Pointing out that the problem of transportation via Pakistan is hampering development of trade relations with that country, Saran said India was going about it in the "best manner possible" by investing in infrastructure development in Iran to Afghanistan.

Noting that Pakistan has been saying that it has a role to play in being a bridge between India and Central Asia, he said "if it wishes to play that role, it is not logical not to allow transit". He said Pakistan has this "economic leverage" which it is using.

Referring to the Iran-India gas pipeline project, Saran said that the same logic applies in that case also. "Allowing the pipeline is a win-win situation for both India and Pakistan besides spreading the all-round economic benefits in the entire region.

Referring to cooperation with Afghanistan in the field of security, Saran said India has already trained 800 Afghans in policing besides supplying 300 vehicles for use by its army. "If further assistance is requested, we will give it," the Foreign Secretary said. Maintaining that there were no Indo-US joint projects in Afghanistan, he said it was being done bilaterally.

However, he added that the two countries had common interest to combat challenges posed by the Taliban. He said India had very close relations across political and ethnic spectrum in Afghanistan, which helped it contribute to harmony and stability of that country.

Singh, who will be the first Prime Minister to visit Afghanistan after 29 years, will hold talks with President Hamid Karzai and other leaders. During his visit, the foundation stone will be laid for the Parliament building to be constructed by India.

He said India also wanted to increase financial assistance to the economically shattered country. India is involved in building Afghanistan's institutions, including human resource, infrastructure, social sector and democratic, Saran said, adding assistance in these fields will be expanded during the visit.

India, he said, was ready to help Afghanistan in the upcoming Parliamentary elections by training its poll personnel. He noted that in the Presidential elections also India had contributed by providing the indelible ink.