EU, India to work for terror free, stable, peaceful Afghanistan

BRUSSELS - Leaders of the European Union (EU) and India on Friday reiterated their common interest in creating a stable, peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan, free from terrorism, as well as their support to the Kabul Process, which seeks to build upon broad international partnership towards further Afghan responsibility and ownership in security, governance and development.

Underlining the need for more effective regional cooperation for the stabilisation of Afghanistan through a joint statement issued here after the daylong 11th EU-India Summit on Friday, India and EU leaders expressed their continued commitment to an ongoing dialogue to this end.

They agreed that terrorism must be combated firmly and expressed concern at the continuing existence of safe havens, including in the cross border dimension. n Pakistan, the two sides acknowledged their respective humanitarian assistance to that country, and voiced a shared hope for a speedy recovery.

They emphasized that a democratic and prosperous Pakistan was in the interest of the entire region.

Both called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring all the perpetrators, authors and accomplices of the Mumbai attacks to justice.

According to the joint statement, the EU and India exchanged views on regional integration and agreed to continue efforts to enhance cooperation in the context of SAARC and other fora, as well as between SAARC and EU.

Leaders recognized that closer regional cooperation is crucial for the development of South Asia. By Smita Prakash (ANI)