India says peace process must be 'Afghan-led, Afghan-owned'

Kabul: Leaders from around the world at the international donors conference here backed handing over Afghanistan's security responsibility to its government by 2014. The Indian representative to the conference, foreign minister SM Krishna, said in his address to the conference that any new process to stabilise the situation in this war-torn nation must be fully "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned."

In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Krishna also mentioned that there must be an end to sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorists from outside the country.

"Terrorism cannot be compartmentalised. Today, one cannot distinguish between al-Qaida and plethora of terrorist organisations which have imbibed the goals and techniques of al-Qaida.

"It is therefore, essential to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith," he told the delegates.

These included his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi who was among the nearly 40 foreign ministers present at the meet.  The meet is also being attended by representatives from international organisations including the United Nations, with its secretary general Ban ki Moon present on the opening day.

Krishna also underlined the need for the international community to ensure that there was no selectivity in dealing with terrorism, with the peace process being "inclusive and transparent."