India has reiterated its commitment to the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and to promote an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process in the country.

India’s position was enunciated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the historic India-Central Asia Dialogue at Samarkand in Uzbekistan with the participation of Afghanistan.

The Dialogue focussed on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to Afghanistan ravaged by terrorism.

Addressing the first session of the dialogue, Mrs Swaraj said, their region is facing serious challenges posed by terrorism. She said that India, Central Asia and Afghanistan are societies which are tolerant and plural.

A Joint statement issued at the end of the Dialogue said, India and five Central Asian countries along with Afghanistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

It said that these countries agreed to cooperate in countering terrorism which poses a threat to people across the world.

Mrs Swaraj along with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan took part in the meeting. She reached the ancient city of Samarkand yesterday on a two-day visit to attend the first-ever India-Central Asia Dialogue.