Militants remains main threat to security, stability of Afghanistan - India

Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has said that the terrorism continues to pose main threat to Afghanistan's security and its internal stability."Terrorism and extremism continues to target the people of Afghanistan," Khurshid in a press statement here Saturday."We too have been facing this threat for many years, and understand the importance in times like these of friends and strategic partners forging the closest of cooperation to defeat this evil scourge." India said it will always be with Afghanistan in the battle against terrorism and extremism.Paying tributes to the men and women of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), he said the force despite having the lack equipment and the shortage of resources continue to win the battle of terrorism. "They have truly emerged as a national force that unifies the whole of Afghanistan," Khurshid added.He said that India sees ANSF has an important role to play during this year of political and security transition in Afghanistan."The international community must fulfill its pledges to ensure that the plans to rebuild the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police are fulfilled," Khurshid noted. "India will continue to assist the ANSF in whatever manner is possible within our capacities. We have always said that a peaceful, prosperous and sovereign Afghanistan that is capable of defending itself is in India's strategic interest," he added. Reiterating Indian support to establish a genuine Afghan owned, Afghan led and Afghan controlled Reconciliation process in Afghanistan, he said India support the brave and the strong decision of Afghanistan to offer peace to armed adversaries. "We continue to tell the international community that it is a grave mistake not to pay attention to the equally important process economic transition that must also take place in Afghanistan, along with the political and security transitions," foreign ministry stated.