Making a strong pitch for its full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, India today said it sees a larger role for the security grouping in Afghanistan and evinced keen interest in participating in its counter-terrorism structure to combat challenges of extremism.
Addressing the extended session of the 12th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which concluded here, external affairs minister S.M. Krishna said India “admired” the grouping which comprised of China, Russia and Central Asian sates of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
India, Pakistan Mongolia and Iran have the status of observer states.
“India, on its part, has been participating constructively at all SCO meetings open to the Observers. By doing so, we have shown our strong willingness to be meaningfully associated with this grouping,” Mr Krishna said.
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Zardari talks Afghanistan with Krishna
Beijing, June 7: India and Pakistan on Thursday briefly discussed Afghanistan when Indian external affairs minister S.M. Krishna spoke to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit here, an official said. Mr Zardari asked Mr Krishna about Indian investments in Afghanistan. Mr Krishna replied that these were concentrated in the areas of health, education and capacity building, the official said. While addressing the summit, Mr Krishna had referred to the $2 billion that India has allocated for Afghanistan’s reconstruction.
This is one of the few occasions when Pakistan has shown willingness to discuss Afghanistan with India. Mr Krishna also met Chinese President Hu Jintao. — IANS