Pakistan-backed terror to be focus of Heart of Asia conference, say India, Afghanistan

In the wake of the brazen Nagrota attack, India and Afghanistan would seek to isolate Pakistan on terror at the two-day Heart of Asia conference beginning Saturday in Amritsar as the two countries on Wednesday pitched for a regional counter-terror framework to effectively deal with the menace.

Identifying terror emanating from Pakistan as the "greatest threat" to regional peace and stability, India and Afghanistan said the Heart of Asia -- Istanbul Process, a platform to assist the war-ravaged country in restoration efforts, provides an opportunity to face the challenge "head on".

Afghanistan has been pushing for finalising an effective counter-terror framework to deal with terror at the conference which will be attended by representatives from over 30 countries including China, the US, Russia, Pakistan and Iran.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz will represent Islamabad at the conference amid heightened tension between the two countries in the wake of the Nagrota army camp attack in which seven officers and jawans were killed. Asked during a briefing on Pakistan's willingness for a bilateral meeting with India on the sidelines of the conference, Joint Secretary in the MEA Gopal Baglay said,"We have not received any request for a bilateral meeting." There was indication that possibility of an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting was remote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will jointly inaugurate the ministerial deliberations on Sunday where the Indian delegation will be led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the absence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is ill. "Terrorism is the biggest challenge which has beset the whole region. It (terror) is responsible for the situation in Afghanistan. It is a major threat to regional peace and stability. We have to discuss this question and we have to face it very squarely. I think the HoA Ministerial conference provides us with the opportunity required to face the challenge head on," Baglay said, addressing a joint press conference with Afghan ambassador to New Delhi Shaida M Abdali.

On his part, the Afghan envoy said there was a need to take collective measures to fight terrorism and uproot the "breeding ground" of the menace and its "safe sanctuaries", in obvious reference to Pakistan. "Terrorism is the greatest threat to the region and we expect the HoA to approve the regional counter terrorism framework that has been drafted by Afghanistan and circulated to HoA countries. We hope the conference will adopt it," he said, strongly condemning the Nagrota attack.

Abdali said Afghanistan was pushing for "binding" clauses in the counter-terror framework to effectively contain terror infrastructure. Afghanistan has been facing terror strikes by militant groups based in Pakistan. Asked what role HoA can play in containing terror, Baglay said specifics on what should be done and how to deal with those who "support and glorify" terrorists will be discussed. "Threat of terrorism is the biggest challenge to peace and stability to the region. There is support to it in our region and where the problem lies we all know. It needs to be sqaurely addressed," he said. 

A declaration will be issued at the conclusion of the conference and is expected to focus on ways to deal with terror. Asked how India was looking at the challenge and what steps it will push for to tackle terror in the wake of the Nagrota attack, Baglay said these are matters of detail and under discussion at inter-governmental level. India is also likely to ask countries in the region to show strong resolve to tackle terrorism.

Abdali said terrorism is "creation of the region and the solution lies in the region. Therefore the upcoming HoA is very well timed". He said terrorism is a multifaceted phenomena which requires a "multifaceted approach" and should include dismantling the "terror matrix", tackling drug trafficking and effectively dealing with radicalisation. The Afghan envoy said terror must be dealt with effectively not only for sake of countries like India and Afghanistan but also for people in the country where "terrorism is nurtured." The conference, whose theme is security and prosperity, will also deliberate on major connectivity iniatives including Chabahar project, a five nation railway project. There may be deliberations on TAPI (Turkmenistan Afghanistan-Pakistan India) gas pipeline project.

President Ghani is schedule to arrive on Saturday and he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a bilateral meeting, possibly on that day itself. Thanking India for providing the last of the four military helicopters to his country last week, Abdali said bilateral talks between the two leaders will be very important, adding security cooperation will be part of the discussion. On HoA helping Afghanistan in its transition, Baglay said six baskets of Confidence Building Measures are being considered and India has tried to bring in more consultation in the groupings initiatives.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was launched in 2011 and the participating countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Swaraj had attended last year's conference in Islamabad.

The platform was floated to encourage security, political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours.

The countries which support the initiative are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain and the US. Four countries Uzbekistan, Latvia, Bulgaria and Austria are attending the conference as guest nations.