Karzai Stands by India, Says Terror Dossiers Credible

A day after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to stand up to the diplomatic initiatives launched by New Delhi in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror strikes, visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday expressed solidarity and unconditional support to India saying the Mumbai attack evidence was “credible” and needed “to be acted upon quickly.”

A joint statement issued after President Karzai held a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an ostensible hint towards Pakistan said countries were responsible for weeding out their backyards as “terrorism emanates from the sanctuaries and training camps and the sustenance and support received by the terrorist groups.”

The Ministry of External Affairs described Karzai’s visit, the second in less than six months, as symbolic of the solidarity the country expressed with India after the Mumbai terror carnage.

The leaders called for the “full compliance with bilateral, multilateral and international obligations of States to prevent terrorism in any manner originating from territories under their control.”

The leaders expressed satisfaction at the progress in bilateral development and reconstruction projects in all parts of Afghanistan.

Singh informed Karza that after the completion of the road from Zaranj to Delaram in south-western Afghanistan, a second major infrastructure project, the Pul-e-Khumri-Kabul transmission line and the sub-station at Chimtala in northern Afghanistan will soon be handed over to the Afghan government.

While expressed satisfaction over the construction of the Afghan Parliament, Singh announced that India would gift 2,50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Kabul and the shipment would be made as soon as Afghanistan worked transportation arrangements.

Karzai invited Singh for a visit to Afghanistan, though, the invitation was accepted, the dates would later be finalized through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband arrives in New Delhi on Tuesday, as a mark of solidarity with India.

Secretary Miliband will address meetings at Mumbai’s Hotel Taj Mahal and Hotel Trident, which bore the brunt of the terror strikes.

In New Delhi, he will meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and may call on Premier Singh to discuss issues ranging from security concerns to climate change.
Britain has maintained that Islamabad must se its house in order, especially as a series of terror plots uncovered by British security agencies were traced to sanctuaries in Pakistan.