Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 77

SPECIAL REPORT
location to enhance wider and regional economic
co-operation.
The international community and ANDSF:
Welcomed agreements between the international
community and Afghanistan for continued fi nancial
support to the Afghanistan National Defence and
Security Forces (ANDSF) until 2020.
While addressing the delegates Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said, “On India’s part, our
commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and
sisters is absolute and unwavering. The welfare of
Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts
and minds.”
Touching down upon the issue of extremism and
terrorism Modi said: “Terrorism and externally-
induced instability pose the gravest threat to
Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and prosperity. And,
the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our
entire region. As such, support for voices of peace
in Afghanistan alone is not enough. It must be
backed by resolute action. Not just against forces
of terrorism, but also against those who support,
shelter, train and fi nance them. Silence and inaction
will only embolden terrorists and their masters.”
Speaking on the occasion, Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani extolled Indian development efforts
in his country. “India’s support to Afghanistan to
improve people’s lives is transparent with no strings
attached,” said Ghani. He added that Chabahar port
in Iran was very important for regional trade and
connectivity between India, Iran and his country.
About the Heart of Asia Conference:
HoA conference is a part of the Istanbul Process
established in 2011 which provides a platform to
discuss an agenda of regional co-operation with
Afghanistan.
It has four important pillars, namely:
• Ministerial Conference (MC): Meets
once a year
• Senior Offi cials Meetings (SOMs): Meets
three times a year
• Ambassadorial Meetings (AMs): Meets
at the discretion of Permanent Chair
• Regional Technical Group Meetings
(RTGs): Meets twice a year as a part of
CBM (Confi dence Building Measure).
So far, its seven meetings have taken place in
Turkey (2011), Afghanistan (2012), Kazakhstan
(2013), China (2014), Pakistan (2015), India (2016)
and, Azerbaijan (2017).
India, as a key player in the region,
has the responsibility to see that
terrorism is dismantled. Few countries
in Afghanistan’s backyard are helping
the terror network in the country for
their own selfi sh interests which has the
potential to destabilise the region.
The 14 participating countries are:
Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Azerbaijan, and
Turkey. These countries engage in result oriented
co-operation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan
and, by extension, a se cure and prosperous region
as a whole.
Supporting countries: Australia, Canada,
Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy,
Iraq, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the
UK, and the US.
Supporting organisations: UN, NATO,
SAARC, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation), and OIC (Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation).
Conclusion
The Amritsar Declaration was very successful;
it highlighted the need for uprooting terrorism for
an enduring peace and prosperity in the region.
Afghanistan still remains under the threat of Taliban
which is trying to increase its infl uence. India and
its neighbors fully understand that the impact of any
resurgence of Taliban would be devastating. Only
development in Afghanistan would ensure that the
country remains peaceful and stable.
India, as a key player in the region, has the
responsibility to see that terrorism is dismantled.
Few countries in Afghanistan’s backyard are
helping the terror network in the country for their
own selfi sh interests which has the potential to
destabilise the region.
Afghanistan understands that India is its
most trusted ally in the region, while its other
neighbor, Pakistan cannot be trusted because of the
duplicity in giving aid to insurgents and terrorists
in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always been wary of
Indian presence in Afghanistan, but Indo-Afghan
friendship is blossoming.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida • 77