World
Russia, India, China concern over resurgence of Taliban and Al Qaeda
Moscow | Thursday, May 15 2008 IST
India, Russia and China have expressed serious concern over the continuing worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan in the wake of increasing terrorist attacks and resurgence of Taliban and Al Qaeda in the country. ''The Ministers praised the achievements of Afghanistan on the way for its reconstruction, but at the same time expressed concern at the continuing deterioration of the security situation there due to continued terrorist attacks and resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaeda,'' a joint communiqu issued at the end of the trilateral meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg said. The Ministers at their meeting stressed the importance of rendering assistance to the Afghan government in fulfilling its tasks in the field of security, improving the functioning of government institutions and, social and economic development of the country. ''They highlighted the need for strict observance of the sanctions regime against Afghan extremist leaders and other persons and entities listed by UN Security Council Committee 1267, tough rebuff to the forces of terrorism and extremism in Afghan territory as also for further increasing the efforts to eradicate the drug threat coming from Afghanistan,'' the communiqu said. It added, the sides noted the importance of international and regional cooperation in creating a comprehensive system of anti-drug security belts alongside the borders of Afghanistan with the UN playing a central coordinating role and cooperation of the neighboring countries. On Iran, the Ministers noted the need to continue the efforts to achieve at the earliest, a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme through negotiations. ''The purpose of these negotiations is to find a long-term comprehensive solution that provides for the trust of the international community to be restored in the exclusively peaceful nature of the programme to ensure that Iran can exercise its right to the peaceful use of atomic energy and to open up the path to wider international cooperation with Iran,'' it noted. The Ministers called upon all interested parties to continue active efforts to promote the six-party talks on resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem towards peaceful and full denuclearisation of the Peninsula in accordance with all relevant agreements achieved earlier in Beijing. The Russian and Indian Ministers reaffirmed their countries support to the Beijing Olympic Games and efforts to ensure their successful holding. -- (UNI) -- 15DF12.xml
HC directs DLF to remove structures for mall in Egmore Six killed and 50 injured during stampede Lord Jagannath\'s Rath Yatra ends peacefully in Ahmedabad MP violence: Cong state chief speaks to Patil Archaka conference held in Kuppam Rojgar Samachar now available on line RJD decides for Lok Sabha poll alliance with any party including SP \'Varuna Japam\' to appease rain god
| 
