Joint Indo-US-Afghan forum in offing
14 Jun 2012
India and the US have agreed to a formal trilateral consultation mechanism with Afghanistan to promote the war-torn country's development, particularly in areas such as agriculture, mining, energy, capacity building and infrastructure.
"We agreed to move forward with a formal trilateral consultation among our three nations (India, Afghanistan and US)," secretary of state Hillary Clinton said at a joint news conference with external affairs minister S M Krishna at the end of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue today.
India is to host the first international investor's meet on Afghanistan in New Delhi later this month.
"We very much appreciate India's commitment to help build a better future for the Afghan people - helping them with more than $2 billion for development, supporting the New Silk Road initiative, hosting the investment conference, providing security, training and support," Clinton said.
"I am very pleased that Afghanistan is getting this kind of encouragement and tangible support because it's in everyone's interests that Afghanistan be as secure and stable as possible."
Krishna said Afghanistan is part of its larger neighbourhood, with ancient historical, cultural and trade ties.
