In a veiled attack against Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Afghanistan will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border and when nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism are shut.
Declaring that India is in Afghanistan to contribute not to compete, to lay the foundations of future and not light the flame of conflict, Modi also said terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape the future of the strife-torn country or dictate the choices its people make.
The Prime Minister was addressing the Afghan Parliament here after inaugurating its swanky new building that was built by India at a cost of 90 million USD in the presence of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
He also opened an 'Atal block' in the Parliament premises named after former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee whose 91st birthday fell today.
In his nearly 40-minute address during which he was lustily cheered by the assembled audience on several occasions, Modi also made a veiled reference to Pakistan's reservations about Indian involvement in Afghanistan, saying," there are some who do not want us to be here.
"There are some who did not want us to be here. There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. Some even tried to discourage us."
"Afghanistan will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border; when nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism are shut; and, their patrons are no longer in business, he said, adding, "Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make."
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