Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Afghan Parliament (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Afghanistan "will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border", in a strong message to Pakistan which is often accused by Kabul of sponsoring the Taliban insurgency.
Here are the latest developments:
Addressing a joint session of both houses of the Afghan Parliament, PM Modi, without naming Pakistan, said that "nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism" must be shut. "Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices Afghans make," he said.
The PM's remarks come at a time when the Taliban has been making territorial gains in Afghanistan after a drawdown of US-led foreign troops. Many in Kabul allege that Pakistan supports the Taliban to maintain influence in Afghanistan and block the influence of India.
In a veiled reference to Pakistan's reservations about India's large diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, PM Modi said, "There are some who did not want us to be here. There were those who saw sinister design in our presence here... But we are here because you had faith in us."
India has invested around USD two billion in aid and reconstruction in Afghanistan and trained scores of officers in the war-torn country.
"India is here to contribute not to compete; to lay the foundations of future, not light the flame of conflict," the PM told Afghan lawmakers.
Interestingly, the PM's tough remarks were followed by a tweet that he would "drop by" Lahore on his way back to Delhi and meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who turned 66 today.
PM Modi, who is on a daylong visit to Kabul - his first to the country since taking office - earlier inaugurated Afghanistan's new Parliament built by India. He said that he was "deeply touched" that a section in the Parliament premises was named 'Atal block' after former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who turned 91 today.
Upon his arrival in Kabul from Moscow this morning, PM Modi was welcomed with a warm hug by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders later held delegation-level talks, discussing a wide range of issues, including on security.
Mr Modi also met Afghanistan's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.
The PM's visit comes just two days after India delivered three of four Russian Mi-25 helicopter gunships to Afghanistan. The fourth, going through overhaul, will be delivered in a month.
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