India and US have agreed to a formal trilateral consultation with Afghanistan to explore opportunities to promote the war-torn country’s development in agriculture, mining, energy, capacity building and infrastructure.

“We agreed to move forward with a formal trilateral consultation among three nations-India, Afghanistan and US,” the Secretary of State Ms Hillary Clinton said at a joint news conference with the External Affairs Minister Mr S M Krishna at the end of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue yesterday.

Later in a joint statement the two leaders said: “They intend to explore opportunities to work together to promote Afghanistan’s development, including in areas such as mining, agriculture, energy, capacity building and infrastructure.”

Later this month, India will be hosting an international investors’ meet on Afghanistan, in New Delhi.

“We very much appreciate India’s commitment to help build a better future for the Afghan people and helping them with more than $2 billion for development, supporting the New Silk Road Initiative, hosting the investment conference, providing security, training and support,” Ms Clinton told reporters.

She added, “I am very pleased that Afghanistan is getting this kind of encouragement and tangible support because it’s in everyone’s interests that Afghanistan is as secure and stable as possible”.

Mr Krishna said while India’s role has always been very constructive. Afghanistan falls in its larger neighbourhood, with which it shares civilisational, historical and trade connections and cultural ties.

During the talks, India also raised the issue of elimination of terror-safe havens in Pakistan.

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