Q. 2970 Plans for protecting countrys interest in Afghanistan

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Government has worked out plans to protect Indian interests in Afghanistan after the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops have pulled out of Afghanistan by 2014;

(b) whether the US Government informed India that it is leaving some troops behind to protect Afghanistan against possible Taliban attempts to take over the country; and

(c) whether Government is in touch with other countries to work out a plan for an international cooperation for a post-2014 Afghanistan?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (c) Government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Afghanistan and is in touch with various stakeholders, including the Government of Afghanistan, its regional and international partners on developments pertaining to Afghanistan. India is also part of various international efforts to bring about peace and stability in that country. Government will take all necessary measures to safeguard India’s interests in this regard. India believes that a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan is the best guarantee for securing Indian interests in that country. India has, accordingly, signed a comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Afghanistan in October 2011 aimed at stepping up political, economic, security, social and cultural ties with Afghanistan. In addition to ongoing assistance, India organized the Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan in June 2012 in an effort to invite Indian and foreign investment into Afghanistan.
Government is aware that the United States is in negotiations with Afghanistan to finalise a Bilateral Security Agreement, which will define numbers, mission mandate and other modalities for the US troops’ presence in Afghanistan post-2014.

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