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Stable Afghan, Iran critical to India’s needs: Khurshid
Tribune News Service

We hope that within our philosophical approach of being friends, we get Afghanistan back to a stable situation. Afghanistan will then become a bridge for us to Central Asia and Iran as well. — Salman Khurshid, external affairs minister

Srinagar, June 29
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said stability in Afghanistan and Iran is critical to India’s energy needs as the two nations were gateway to the Central Asian region abundant in hydrocarbon wealth.

In his address at the inaugural function of a three-day international conference on security and development in Central Asia, Khurshid asked the people of Afghanistan to choose their own destiny by ensuring restoration of peace in the trouble-torn country. “Peace must come from within. Afghans need to decide on their own,” Khurshid said.

The minister said Afghanistan was strategically located in the region and there was a long and historic relationship between India and Central Asia. He stressed the need for cooperation in the energy sector and referred to the Silk Route and the possibility of developing more links through Afghanistan and Iran.

“We are looking at re-energising the national North-South Corridor to connect India with Central Asia and Russia through Iran. We are looking at trans-Afghan routes using Iranian port of Chahabar particularly to get access to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. We are looking at a rail link from Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan into Iran.

“It does make Iran very critical. On the other hand, it makes Afghanistan very critical. Therefore, we hope that within our philosophical approach of being friends, we get Afghanistan back to a stable situation.