BEIJING - Taking part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Chinese capital Beijing, India's external affair minister S M Krishna on Thursday said the biggest security challenge in the region in and around South Asia is to Afghanistan.
"The most important security challenge we face today relates to Afghanistan, which lies in the heart of Asia and is a bridge, connecting not just central and South Asia but also Eurasia and the Middle East," said Krishna.

"The SCO provides a promising alternative regional platform to discuss the rapidly changing Afghan situation," Krishna said.

The Indian minister said that the economic development projects of the SCO can be a meaningful additional effort for Afghanistan's reconstruction.

"India has already committed $2 billion towards reconstruction and developmental activities in Afghanistan, which reflects India's commitment to the prosperity of the Afghan people" he said.

Krishna, who represented India in the last two summits, said India is willing to cooperate with regional countries to build bridges between Central and South Asia.

"Energy cooperation is another area of interest to us. The proposed 'Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline' (TAPI) Project within our region is an example of cooperation that can bind us in energy linkages" added Krishna. (Pajhwok)