 "Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah speaks during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters")
Amid efforts to resume its stalled peace process with the Taliban, Afghanistan today said India is "fully in the picture" and it is being kept abreast about every single development aimed at bringing stability in the war-ravaged nation.
Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah expressing satisfaction over defence and security ties between the two countries, also said his government was happy with support from India over supply of military hardware and that there was "no redline" on it.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on Abdullah on the last day of his five-day visit here, and discussed various issues relating to security cooperation. The recent terror attacks near Indian missions in Afghanistan are understood to have figured in the meeting.
Asked during a media interaction whether there was any link between terror attacks outside Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif and Pathankot air base, he said it would have been shared if there was any. He said every possible step is being taken to ensure security of diplomatic missions of India and others in his country.
On comments by an Afghan police official that Pakistan army personnel were involved in the Mazar-e-Sharif attack, he did not give a specific response but said, "We have full sense of cooperation between our security personnel."
Identifying terrorism as the biggest challenge facing the region, Abdullah said Pakistan has significant influence over the Talibans and can play a major role in bringing the terror outfit to talks with Kabul and help move forward the peace process.
"There are enough lesson for us that the terror groups regardless of who have created and supported them will turn against the state," he said without elaborating further.
On military hardware supply to Afghanistan by India, he said, "We are happy with support from India including the military part. It was being based on our priority. There is no limitation and there is no sort of redline." India had supplied three Mi-35 multi-role helicopters to Kabul in December.
Queried whether India has been kept out of the peace process as Pakistan, China and the US were trying to restart Kabul's talks with the Taliban, he said this is a "preparatory phase of facilitating the negotiations and that India is fully in the picture" and that it is being "kept abreast about every single development".
Representatives of Afgjanistan, Pakistan, China and the US are scheduled to meet on Saturday as part of the ongoing efforts to lay out a roadmap for the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
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