NEW DELHI, July 28 (KUNA) -- India and the US pledged on Wednesday to work together for bring stability in the Indo-Pacific region and peace in Afghanistan apart from working on a number of issues in the bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern.
In a press statement after talks between visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi, Blinken said that India-US partnership is crucial for delivering stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. "We believe that this partnership will be critical for delivering stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond and for showing the world how democracy can deliver for their people," he said. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also underlined the importance of cooperation between the two nations in Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan. "Peace and prosperity in Indo-Pacific is as important for both of us as democratic stability in Afghanistan. Deepening Quad as a collaborative platform is in our mutual interest and we must work together even more closely on key contemporary challenges like terrorism," Jaishankar said.
Both the sides also asserted their commitment to bring stability in the region after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
"India and US share a strong interest in peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan. As a credible partner in the region, India has and will continue to make a vital contribution to Afghanistan's stability and development," Blinken said.
The US official also attempted to assuage Indian fears that Afghanistan will be at the mercy of Taliban, which is antagonistic to India, once the US pull out it's forces without a concrete plan in place.
"Even as we withdraw our forces from Afghanistan, we remain engaged in Afghanistan. We have not only a strong embassy there but also have important programmes that support the country economically through development and security assistance," he said adding concerted diplomatic efforts are on "to bring parties together at the table for the resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan".
India has expressed its concern over the unilateral imposition of will on Afghan people and that it will never help bring peace to the country. Jaishankar underscored that Afghanistan must not be a place for terrorists or a source of refugees. "The gains to Afghan civil society, especially rights of women, minorities and social freedom over the last two decades are self-evident. Afghanistan must never be home to terrorism, nor become a source of refugees," he said during the press conference. The visiting US official also stressed the shared values of democracy and diversity and pledged to work together for shaping the 21st century. "We are two of the world-leading democracies and diversity fuels our national strength. Together the actions that the US and India takes are shaping the 21st century and beyond, that's why strengthening the partnership with India is US' top foreign policy priority," he added.
The US has also pledged USD 25 million to help vaccination in India and said that both the countries will increase production of COVID-19 vaccines.
"US has contributed more than 200 million dollars worth of COVID19 assistance. I am pleased to announce that the US government will send additional 25 million dollars to support vaccination efforts across India," Blinken announced. He added that the pandemic had hit both the nations severely and the US is thankful to Indian support in the initial stage.
"We are determined to end this pandemic in India and the United States. We will work to do it. We remember with gratitude and will not forget the aid and assistance India provided to us early in the pandemic. I am proud we could return the gesture to India," he added.
On his part Jaishankar said that New Delhi has acknowledged US efforts to ensure the vaccine raw material supply chain open.
"We discussed the need for global availability of affordable vaccines. We hope the US would take a sympathetic view of Indian travelers," Jaishankar said. The US official also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss a host of bilateral, regional and global issues including security, defense, COVID-19 and regional developments. Blinken is slated to leave New Delhi this evening heading to the state of Kuwait where he is scheduled to meet the leadership to discuss a host of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern. (end) atk.gta