India, Afghanistan call for end to all support of militants

NEW DELHI – India and Afghanistan on Wednesday called for an end to all sponsorship, support and sanctuaries to militants, including those who have committed violence in the two countries.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani did not name Pakistan in their remarks, though they have previously. The neighbouring country has been accused of supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan and rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India offered a fresh $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan for building capacity in education, health, agriculture, energy and infrastructure, said a joint statement by the two sides. They also signed an extradition treaty.

Kabul has cultivated closer ties with New Delhi in recent years as a balance to Pakistan.

Ghani arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

Modi and Ghani also reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen their security and defenceco-operation, but did not give any details. India already has donated three multirole Mi-35 helicopters to Afghanistan.

The two sides also stressed that fast implementation of an agreement among Afghanistan, India and Iran to develop the Chabahar port in Iran would increase connectivity within the region.

India said in May it would invest up to $500 million to develop the Iranian port, which India plans to use for trade with Afghanistan in the absence of a land route through Pakistan.