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On India’s part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering: PM Modi

Published By : Admin | December 4, 2016 | 12:47 IST
We must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear: PM
Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters: PM Modi
We should all work to build stronger positive connectivity between Afghanistan and other countries of the region: PM Modi
On India’s part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering: PM Modi
The welfare of Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts and minds: PM Modi
We also plan to connect Afghanistan with India through an air transport corridor: Prime Minister Modi

Your Excellency Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
Your Excellency Salahuddin Rabbani, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
My colleague Minister Arun Jaitley ji,
Foreign Ministers, Heads of Delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Namaskar. Sat Sri Akal.

It is an honour to speak at the inaugural session of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process on Afghanistan.

And, it is a particular pleasure to jointly inaugurate this Conference with our friend and partner, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan.

I thank Excellency Ghani for accepting my invitation and for gracing this conference. It is also a great privilege for me to welcome all of you in Amritsar, a city blessed with simplicity, beauty and spirituality, and abode to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrines of Sikhs.

It is a place made sacred by Sikh Gurus who meditated here. It embodies peace and humanism, and is open to all people and religions. Its streets and parks tell stories of great valour and immense sacrifice.

It is a city whose character has been shaped by proud patriotism and generous philanthropy of its residents. And, by their spirit of enterprise, creativity and hard work. Amritsar also happens to nurture an old and steadfast connection of warmth and affection with Afghanistan.

Among the earliest disciples of the first Guru of Sikhs, Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji, were Afghans he had preached to in Kabul in the 15th century.

Even today, the shrine of an Afghan-origin sufi saint Baba Hazrat Sheikh in Punjab is revered by all faiths, including visitors from Afghanistan.

The flow of trade, people and ideas through our region has often intersected in Amritsar on one of Asia’s oldest and longest surface arteries, the Grand Trunk Road. Amritsar reinforces the value of restoring connectivity which is so crucial for the overall growth, stability and economic prosperity of Afghanistan.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since the turn of this century, the international community has extensively engaged in Afghanistan.

Major powers, regional countries and concerned nations from around the world have cooperated through multiple programmes of political, social, military, economic, and developmental support.

Our gathering today re-affirms the commitment of the international community to durable peace and lasting political stability in Afghanistan. Our words and actions remain focused at advancing a critical unfinished mission of our time.

And, that is to help Afghanistan:

Build and strengthen its social, political and institutional fabric;
Secure its territory and citizens from external threats,
Spur its economic and development activity,
and Stitch a stable and prosperous future for its people.
Indeed, this is also the intent of this conference, aptly captured in its theme, "Addressing challenges; Achieving prosperity”.

We have no doubt about the scale of the challenge. But, we are equally determined to succeed.

The results of our collective efforts thus far have been hard-won, but mixed. There have been important successes. Much more remains to be done.

The need of the hour is to stand our ground and continue with our line of effort. We must protect and build on the gains of the last fifteen years and march ahead.

Because, at stake is not just the future of Afghanistan that has invested in a vision of development, democracy, and pluralism. But, the peace and stability of this entire region, and beyond.

Let us also reflect with urgency on what more must be done and what we must avoid in Afghanistan so that its citizens can self-sustain peace and economic growth. The answers are all there. The question is of resolve and action. And, of putting Afghanistan and its people first.

For this, First, an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process is key. It is the only guarantor of durability of solutions. Second, we must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear.

Terrorism and externally induced instability pose the gravest threat to Afghanistan’s peace, stability and prosperity. And, the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire region. As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough.

It must be backed by resolute action. Not just against forces of terrorism, but also against those who support, shelter, train and finance them.

Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters. Third, our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan’s development and humanitarian needs must continue and increase.

Our cooperative endeavours in Afghanistan should contribute to its infrastructure and institutional capacity, and self-propelling engines of growth.

Fourth,we should all work to build stronger positive connectivity between Afghanistan and other countries of the region.

Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them. On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia.

We cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On India’s part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering. The welfare of Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts and minds.

The successful record of our partnership in projects, big and small, in Afghanistan speaks for itself. The principal dimension of our cooperation has always been its people centric nature.

Our joint efforts:
educate Afghanistan’s young and nurture their skills;
provide health care and improve agriculture;
build infrastructure and institutions; and
allow traders and small businesses in Afghanistan to connect with immense commercial and economic opportunities in India.
And, the reach and benefit of such efforts extends to all corners of Afghanistan. Herat’s India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam, also called the Salma Dam, that was launched a few months ago, will help revive economic activity for the people there.

The Parliament Building in Kabul represents our strong commitment to Afghanistan’s democratic future. Zeranj-Deleram highway and India-Afghanistan-Iran cooperation on Chahbahar would enable Afghanistan to link its economy with centres of strong economic growth in South Asia and beyond.

We also plan to connect Afghanistan with India through an air transport corridor

President Ghani and I have discussed additional measures for deepening our bilateral cooperation. We are making progress in developing plans for utilization of the additional 1 billion US Dollar earmarked by India for capacity and capability building in Afghanistan.

It will extend to areas like water management, health, infrastructure, energy and skill development. As India implements its additional commitments, we are open to work with other like-minded partners for the development of Afghanistan.

We are also happy to note the international commitments at the Brussels Conference in October and NATO’s Warsaw Summit in July this year. We will continue efforts to scale up our ambition and dedication to assist Afghanistan.

In this, we draw upon lessons learned and best practices derived from our shared experience in working on projects.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

Let us remember that every passing day we help Afghanistan to achieve successful political, security and economic transitions, we are also helping ourselves create a more peaceful region and world.

I hope that your deliberations will produce constructive and forward looking pathways for action that:
promote cooperation in place of conflict,
development in place of need, and
security in place of terrorism.
Let us re-dedicate ourselves to making Afghanistan a Geography of Peace. A place where reason and peace succeeds; progress and prosperity prevails and democracy and plurality wins.

Thank you.

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Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today commissioned three indigenously designed and built naval ships - INS Dunagiri, an advanced stealth frigate, INS Sanshodhak, a survey vessel (large) and INS Agray, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, West Bengal. These inductions will significantly bolster the nation’s operational capabilities, enhance maritime domain awareness, and strengthen the security of our coastal waters against geopolitical threats. All three ships were designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed in Kolkata by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), with extensive participation by Indian industry, including more than 200 MSMEs. With an indigenous content of over 75 percent, these ships are also a testament to India’s commitment to Aatmanirbharta.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted that the occasion coincides with the International Day of Yoga being celebrated across the world and expressed happiness at having the opportunity to visit the historic land of Bengal, which has played a pivotal role in shaping India's intellectual, cultural and national renaissance and has connected India with the world through maritime routes for centuries. “The event represented an important milestone in the journey towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, a secure India and a developed India”, Shri Modi noted. He pointed out that June 21 is also observed globally as World Hydrography Day and described it as a remarkable coincidence that India's most advanced hydrographic survey vessel, INS Sanshodhak, is commissioned on the same day. Congratulating the Indian Navy, scientists, engineers, workers and all citizens of the country, Shri Modi said the achievement reflected India's growing technological and maritime capabilities. “No nation can emerge as a major power without strong maritime capabilities. Development, security and prosperity are closely linked to the oceans. Most of the world's trade moves through sea routes, while vast global data networks operate beneath the oceans”, Shi Modi stated while emphasizing the importance of maritime strength in the modern world. He further noted that critical minerals, deep-sea resources and future sources of energy will increasingly be connected to the maritime domain. Therefore, he said, a nation's economic and strategic influence is directly linked to the strength of its maritime sector.

Shri Modi stated that India fully understands this reality and is preparing itself accordingly. “The commissioning of the three naval platforms stands as testimony to the country's growing capabilities and skills”, he remarked. Recalling the commissioning of INS Vikrant, he said that it had marked the beginning of a new chapter in India's maritime journey and announced India's growing naval strength to the world. He noted that the journey from INS Vikrant to the commissioning of INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Sanshodhak is not merely a story of new warships but also a reflection of India's increasing self-reliance. “All three vessels symbolize India's commitment to indigenous design, manufacturing and innovation. Designed and built in India, the vessels showcase the talent of Indian industries, the expertise of Indian engineers and the hard work of Indian workers”, Shri Modi underscored.

Shri Modi asserted that India does not wish to remain merely a buyer in the defence sector. “The strength of the nation's military cannot be measured by its dependence on global markets but by its ability to become self-reliant. India seeks to become a producer and a manufacturer, because nations that manufacture become decisive players on the global stage”, he added. Highlighting recent achievements, the Prime Minister noted that more than 40 indigenously built warships and submarines have been inducted into the Indian Navy over the past few years. He remarked that nearly every few weeks the Navy has received a new capability, while 45 major naval platforms are currently under construction. These figures, he said, are not merely statistics but indicators of India's industrial capacity and future potential.

Underlining the immense employment-generating potential of the maritime sector, Shri Modi said, “The Government views the maritime sector not as an isolated industry but as a major engine of employment and economic growth for a developed India. A modern ship requires large quantities of steel, electronics, machinery and thousands of components, creating opportunities across extensive industrial supply chains”. Referring to the three commissioned vessels, he noted that more than 200 MSMEs contributed to their construction, generating substantial employment and economic activity across the country.

Shri Modi stated that the time has come for India to enter the next phase of maritime development, and the Government has adopted a new vision for the shipbuilding sector and has introduced several policy reforms in recent years to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities. “The ₹70,000 crore incentive package announced for the shipping sector is not merely an economic measure but an investment in India's maritime future and industrial expansion. Initiatives such as Sagarmala reflect this comprehensive vision and are helping reduce logistics costs, accelerate industrial growth and create new opportunities in coastal regions” he stated.

Reflecting on India's transformation in the defence sector, Shri Modi observed that there was a time when India was counted among the world's largest defence importers, creating both strategic and security challenges. Following the formation of the Government in 2014, he said, a determined effort was made to change this situation through major policy reforms and a strong emphasis on self-reliance in defence manufacturing. “These efforts have opened new opportunities in defence design, manufacturing and exports. While India's total defence production stood at around ₹40,000 crore in 2014, it has now risen to nearly ₹1.8 lakh crore, demonstrating the significant progress made towards building a strong, self-reliant and globally competitive defence industry”, he remarked. Shri Modi emphasized that the progress made over the past twelve years demonstrates how transformative change becomes possible when policies are clear, direction is correct, and all stakeholders work together with a shared commitment towards national development.

Referring to India's rich maritime heritage, the Prime Minister said that the name of West Bengal naturally comes to mind whenever the country's maritime legacy is discussed. He observed that Bengal has historically played a crucial role in India's maritime connections with the world. The waters of the Hooghly River, he said, have witnessed changing chapters of history, the growth of trade, and new journeys of development. He also noted that the port bears the name of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the son of Bengal and India's first Minister for Industry, making the occasion even more significant. “West Bengal is poised to become a major hub for India's Blue Economy, maritime manufacturing, logistics and coastal development in the years ahead”, Shri Modi stated.

Shri Modi reiterated that India has always viewed the oceans as a medium for cooperation and connectivity. “Security is indispensable for protecting prosperity, while self-reliance is necessary for building the future. INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Sanshodhak embody these very ideals and symbolize a nation that is increasingly aware of its capabilities, confident in its strengths and determined to move forward with renewed energy and purpose in the twenty-first century” he emphasised.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to all personnel of the Indian Navy, scientists, engineers, workers and all citizens for their contribution to these achievements and expressed confidence that India's maritime and defence sectors would continue to strengthen the nation's security, prosperity and global standing.