Afghanistan wants India to broaden cooperation

Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta candidly acknowledged that his country, which is struggling to end cross-border terrorism, would have to "seek cooperation and collaboration" of Pakistan Army which is a "very special institution" in Pakistan.

Spanta, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and NSA Shivshankar Menon, appreciated India's gesture of undertaking a number of projects like construction of strategically important Zaranj-Delaram highway, Parliament building and an electricity transmission line. Such projects, he said, are "future-oriented" for sustainable development of Afghanistan.

"We will like to see India engage in more in these fields because this is fundamental for future of Afghanistan," he told a select group of journalists, adding he had conveyed this to India during his meetings here.

Asked whether Afghanistan would want India to train Afghan National Army, Spanta responded, "we would like to have broad and extended cooperation with India for stability and reconstruction and also enhancing Afghan security capabilities."

When referred to the recent meeting between President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, the NSA said Afghanistan will have to talk to "Pakistani brothers to find a solution terrorism. We will continue that till there is concrete result."

Questioned over the need to talk to the Army Chief when a civilian government was in place in Islamabad, Spanta said, "We all know Pakistan army has relevance, place in daily lives and politics of Pakistan. This is not reality of today, this is case of 60-65 years."

He said Afghan government has good relations with the civilian dispensation in Islamabad "but because Army is a very special institution in Pakistan, so our civilian leader President Karzai has to talk to this institution to seek cooperation and collaboration of Pakistan army."

Though Spanta did not elaborate, Afghan government is aware that Army wields the real power in Pakistan and is responsible for terrorism in Afghanistan through its support to radical jehadi groups.

Afghanistan is clear that the nine-year-old war against terrorism would not succeed till the safe havens and sanctuaries in Pakistan are not targeted and has conveyed this to the US.