International
Indian aid to be routed via Iran
By Amit Baruah
TOKYO, JAN. 22. Iran will be the principle route for Indian goods bound for Afghanistan, the Disinvestment Minister, Arun Shourie, said after a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazzi, here today.
Mr. Shourie, who held meetings with French, British, Japanese and World Bank representatives on the sidelines of the Afghanistan Aid Conference, said India was now seen as a factor in Afghan affairs. India and Iran had common concerns in the region and would certainly work together as far as Afghanistan was concerned.
Mr. Shourie's comments come as Iran announced that it would pledge $120 million for Afghanistan's reconstruction in 2002 and a total of $560 million over five years. This commitment makes Teheran a major donor and reflects that it remains a serious player in the war-torn country.
To questions from The Hindu on the linkage between the security situation and the development aid, Mr. Kharazzi said, ``That is our hope. That is why we are putting in so much money. Certainly it is very important to have a civil government in Kabul to prepare the ground for reconstruction.''
Asked whether outside interference had ended in that country, he said, ``It has to be like that otherwise this interim Government cannot continue.'' On whether American military operations might interfere in the task of reconstruction, he said, ``Eventually, the security has to be maintained by the national army of Afghanistan. So, the first thing to do is to establish the national army and police to take over the security of Afghanistan and prepare the ground for reconstruction.''
Separately, the Pakistani Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz, when asked for his assessment of the two-day aid conference, said: ``This is a defining moment for Afghanistan... we are all very pleased.''
Pakistan has pledged $100 million over a five-year period. India has also announced a similar grant, though without a time-frame. Additionally, it is providing one million tonnes of wheat, also valued at $100 million.
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