NEW DEHLI - Terming the situation in Afghanistan as the "greatest concern" for the region, India along with Russia and China demanded "additional measures" from the international community to prevent escalating threats in the war-torn country while agreeing to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation.
Sharing the assessment of developments in Afghanistan, the foreign ministers of RIC (Russia-India-China) in their third stand alone meeting here stressed on enhanced efforts to help it deal with the crucial transition it was going through in the face of complete NATO combat troop withdrawal by next year.
"We had a very productive discussion on these issues on counter-terrorism. We do want to look together at countering drug trade that is as greater a menace as terrorism and in fact intrinsically linked in many ways as it gets to finance terrorism," External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said at a joint press conference with his counterparts Wang Yi from China and Sergei Lavrov from Russia.
Khurshid was asked if the three countries have discussed any concrete action on Afghanistan and counter-terrorism. Wang said, "The issue (Afghanistan) is of greatest concern to the countries in this region including China, India and Russia....We want secure, stable and unified Afghanistan which enjoys development. We have always respected sovereign independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan."
They also need a helping hand from the international community, Wang said, adding there was a need to properly handle the three aspects - to ensure smooth general elections in Afghanistan, truly support political reconciliation process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and jointly support UN efforts to coordinate international assistance.
Lavrov asked for "additional measures" by international community to prevent escalating security threats in Afghanistan. Another major issue of congruence in today's deliberations ahead of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Asia and Europe from tomorrow was counter-terrorism. The three leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
According to sources, China, in view of terrorist attack at Tiananmen Square, came around to express strong support for regional cooperation in counter-terrorism. Russia also expressed concerned about terror spreading from Afghanistan, the sources said, adding all the three countries discussed cooperation in Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) under Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China also said it will host the next conference of foreign ministers, as part of the Istanbul process on Afghanistan, next year. The Russian leader hoped that soon a multilateral dialogue on the creation of regional security architecture will be held in Brunei.
The three countries also discussed situation in Syria, Iran's contentious nuclear program among other key international and regional issues.
China stressed that presenting a common message will generate a enormous positive energy for the process of human history and the trilateral should work on strategic thrust, coordinating common positions and deepening practical cooperation.
"We reviewed the evolving regional and global scenario with particular attention to Syria, Egypt, Middle East and Afghanistan. We talked international terrorism as well as our cooperation in multilateral fora, including G-20, BRICS, SCO.... We also discussed evolving security architecture in Asia-Pacific region and streamline RIC cooperation," Khurshid said.
On Syria, the three countries were of the same view that a comprehensive and sustainable political solution can only be found through peaceful and inclusive political process, Khurshid said. Briefing his counterparts in RIC about the Geneva meeting on talks between Iran and five major countries -France, Germany, UK, China, Russia and USA- Lavrov said the meeting discussed practical ways to implement the decision of International Atomic Energy Agency.
"The meeting has proved that the negotiations on this issue were concentrated on search of understanding mutually acceptable decision.... We are trying to reach consensus.... The new Iran government has been very decisive in taking the necessary steps in this area. And the negotiations we had in 3+3 meeting with Iran very substantial," he said. "Based on the assessment of all the participants of yesterday's meeting, we have reached a very big progress. I am ready to confirm that assessment and I have shared the details with the foreign ministers of India and China," Lavrov said.
The Russian minister said, "the political directors of the six-party talks are going to have a meeting on November 20 to continue discussions and based on what we achieved in Geneva to shape the process that could form the basis for a joint document and chances of that are very high". He also appreciated the role of the US during the Geneva meeting. (Agencies)