Regional cooperation must for Afghanistan stability

Recent mass uprisings in Egypt and other countries in the mid-east amply show that ultimately the countries in the region themselves have to normalize the situation and that other outside powers are mainly driven by their own limited concerns which they try to tackle even by altering their policy orientations. Strategic interests of both India and Iran therefore necessitate long-term sustained efforts to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan to serve the regional interest of the
area.



Keeping this view both the countries completed the construction of a transit corridor that now links Iran’s port of Chabahar with the Afghanistan’s ring road system.


India and Iran’s interests in stabilizing Afghanistan have all along been well demonstrated in extensively assisting Northern alliance leader Ahmad Shah Masood in defeating the Taliban activity in the year 2003. Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh ,Iran’s Ambassador to India thus stressed on the need for regional countries for taking the lead in normalizing the situation in Afghanistan contending that other outside countries will de-stabilize the region.


India has important strategic interests in Afghanistan. India views this country as a gateway to central Asian energy resources and as a potential ally to positively influence Pakistan policies for constructively engaging in this region.

Both the countries viz India and Iran cannot turn a blind eye to the uprising in the mid-east which will have a major impact on their economic interest and long term cultural continuity stretching from ancient times. Thus extending support to the protestors in Egypt , Nabizadeh said “ Of any government ignores the civilisational,cultural and economic interests of its people it will face opposition ".

However ,Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei embraced the pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt as an “Islamic Awakening” similar to Iran’s own 1979 revolution, which marks its 32 anniversary on Friday

Further any problem erupting in a particular country is sure to effect it neighbours and the region.. And such major eruption in Egypt and mid east countries will affect the interests of South Asian region.


Again reiterating that security situation in Afghanistan is still fragile and that US plans withdrawal of its forces by 2014, India and Iran should sustain a comprehensive and active security dialogue with each other.

With its stakes in Afghanistan as high as any other country, India has said that it is willing to talk to Pakistan about the issue of peace and stability in the country.

While India has said that the Afghanistan government must prevent Islamabad from influencing the ongoing reintegration process in the country.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao "If there is scope for us to cooperate in Afghanistan, to help the people there and bring stability, why not contemplate the issue? Nothing should be ruled out.''