New Delhi: India today welcomed US President Donald Trump favouring an enhanced role for New Delhi in ushering in peace and stability in Afghanistan, saying that the country had been ‘steadfast in extending reconstruction and development assistance’ to Kabul and would continue with these efforts. Responding to the US President outlining an enhanced role for India in restoring peace in the strife-torn South Asian country, while warning Pakistan against supporting safe havens for terrorists, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson said New Delhi shared Washington’s concerns and objectives. He underlined that the country had been steadfast in extending reconstruction and development aid to Afghanistan and would continue these efforts, including in partnership with other countries. The MEA spokesperson was reacting to Mr Trump, who in a prime time TV address last night, spelled out his new approach to the South Asia strategy for America, as further developing its strategic partnership with India, the world’s largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the United States. ‘We appreciate India’s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan,’ he added. To a question on President Trump’s comments on Afghanistan, the official spokesperson told reporters here,’We welcome President Trump’s determination to enhance efforts to overcome the challenges facing Afghanistan and confronting issues of safe havens and other forms of cross-border support enjoyed by terrorists. India shares these concerns and objectives.’ He reiterated that the Indian Government was committed to supporting the Government and the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to bring ‘peace, security, stability and prosperity’ in their country. ‘We have been steadfast in extending reconstruction and development assistance to Afghanistan in keeping with our traditional friendship with its people. We will continue these efforts, including in partnership with other countries,’ he told reporters.
