Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the withdrawal of American troops from strife-ridden Afghanistan should be done very slowly.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Prime Minister Modi said, “I have requested the US to not make the same mistake as was made in Iraq, when American troops were withdrawn too quickly. The withdrawal process in Afghanistan should be very slow.”
The US has made a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan build a secure state with a democratic government that respects human rights. The US, along with other international donors, has also committed to providing Afghanistan USD 16 billion in aid through 2015.
The US supports a broad-based government in Afghanistan, which would be a representative of all Afghans. Afghan forces have taken or are transitioning to take the lead in combat operations, with International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) supporting through advisory and enabling roles. The transition of full security responsibility for Afghanistan from ISAF to Afghan forces will be complete by the end of 2014.
India has sought to allay fears about the future by making a long-term commitment to the security and development of Afghanistan. The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two sides, provides for assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan’s infrastructure and institutions, education and technical assistance to re-build indigenous Afghan capacity in different areas, encouraging investment in Afghanistan’s natural resources, providing duty- free access to the Indian market for Afghanistan’s export products, support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community. (ANI)