'India committed to development work in Afghanistan'

A day after its embassy in Kabul was attacked by a suicide bomber, an undeterred India today said it is committed to development work in Afghanistan, which needs such assistance to serve the cause of democracy in the war-ravaged country.

"India believes that cause of democracy and peace in Afghanistan can be best served through development programmes which the Afghan Government and people need most urgently," minister of state for External Affairs Parneet Kaur said here.

Noting that India has already carried out several major infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, she said the country has "committed" itself to provide such assistance estimated at 1.2 billion US Dollars.
   
A suicide bomber yesterday blew up an explosives-laden car outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul, killing 12 people and injuring 83, including three ITBP personnel, in the second attack on the mission in over a year.
   
Addressing an Indo-EU forum seminar, Kaur also sought enhanced cooperation between India and the European Union in tackling the "biggest challenge" of terrorism.

"India and the EU need to address the menace of terrorism with coordination and cooperation," she said hoping that the summit meeting between the two sides next month here will "further concretise" their strategic ties.

Referring to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Kaur said it has offered huge opportunity to work for sustainable energy security.

"As India gears itself for a major expansion of nuclear energy production, the EU countries can work for obtaining a large share in this undertaking," she said.

Talking about climate change, she said both India and the EU have clear differences in their approach to deal with the problem.

"The EU countries favour quantitative restrictions on green house gas emissions whereas India finds it difficult to adopt emission caps given its priority for development and economic growth," Kaur said.
   
On WTO deadlock on Doha round, the Minister said a "multilateral, rule-based universal trading regime is in the best interest of both developed as well as developing countries."
  
Reiterating India's demand for strengthening the role of United Nations, she said the EU recognises the need to make the multilateral system more responsive.

She also favoured reforms in international financial institutions like IMF and the World Bank.