India a stabilising factor: US envoy to Afghanistan
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Sep 28, 2017, 11.40 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Terror groups in Afghanistan form a very tiny minority and huge sections of the population are hopeful of a better future where India as a natural strategic partner of Kabul has a significant role to play, said Hugo Llorens, US Ambassador to Afghanistan.
“President Donald Trump thinks out of the box. He thinks Afghanistan is a rich country with poor people. He sees lot of opportunity to achieve turnaround where both the state and private sector play important roles. The President, in his South Asia strategy, has made India the stabilising factor in South Asia. Washington and Delhi are building a new strategic partnership with a goal to stabilise Afghanistan. Afghanistan is not a local issue it is a global challenge,” Llorens told ET in an exclusive interview. He is in the city for the mega Indo-Afghan trade and investment show that is being facilitated by USAID.
On India hosting the trade show, the envoy noted that this was part of Delhi’s initiative in taking lead in trade and investment sector under the ‘Heart of Asia’ process to stabilise Afghanistan. “There is a tremendous opportunity for the Indian private sector in Afghanistan, ranging from the mining sector to agricultural produce to the telecom sector. There exists a great economic potential waiting to be unleased,” pointed out Llorens showcasing these sectors in presence of over 200 Afghan entrepreneurs. The Afghan economy has grown from a meagre $2 billion in 2001 to $20 b during the past 16 years.
Afghanistan is synonymous with high-quality products — carpets, gems, spices, and fruits — pointed out Llorens. The US envoy pointed out that agricultural produce from Afghanistan are finding its way to the Indian market through the dedicated Indo-Afghan trade corridor. With the number of telecom users increasing in landlocked Afghanistan, Llorens also indicated that this sector could be lucrative for Indian entrepreneurs.
On Pakistan’s discomfort regarding India’s growing footprints in Afghanistan, the visiting envoy said, “While US is working with Pakistan to combat terrorism, Pakistan has to be decide for itself whether it wants to get into self-isolation mode. Pakistan cannot turn a blind eye to the scourge of terror and terror networks like Haqqanis.”
“President Donald Trump thinks out of the box. He thinks Afghanistan is a rich country with poor people. He sees lot of opportunity to achieve turnaround where both the state and private sector play important roles. The President, in his South Asia strategy, has made India the stabilising factor in South Asia. Washington and Delhi are building a new strategic partnership with a goal to stabilise Afghanistan. Afghanistan is not a local issue it is a global challenge,” Llorens told ET in an exclusive interview. He is in the city for the mega Indo-Afghan trade and investment show that is being facilitated by USAID.
On India hosting the trade show, the envoy noted that this was part of Delhi’s initiative in taking lead in trade and investment sector under the ‘Heart of Asia’ process to stabilise Afghanistan. “There is a tremendous opportunity for the Indian private sector in Afghanistan, ranging from the mining sector to agricultural produce to the telecom sector. There exists a great economic potential waiting to be unleased,” pointed out Llorens showcasing these sectors in presence of over 200 Afghan entrepreneurs. The Afghan economy has grown from a meagre $2 billion in 2001 to $20 b during the past 16 years.
Afghanistan is synonymous with high-quality products — carpets, gems, spices, and fruits — pointed out Llorens. The US envoy pointed out that agricultural produce from Afghanistan are finding its way to the Indian market through the dedicated Indo-Afghan trade corridor. With the number of telecom users increasing in landlocked Afghanistan, Llorens also indicated that this sector could be lucrative for Indian entrepreneurs.
On Pakistan’s discomfort regarding India’s growing footprints in Afghanistan, the visiting envoy said, “While US is working with Pakistan to combat terrorism, Pakistan has to be decide for itself whether it wants to get into self-isolation mode. Pakistan cannot turn a blind eye to the scourge of terror and terror networks like Haqqanis.”
