New Delhi: The 6th Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference is taking place in Amritsar on Sunday. Here are all the LIVE updates:-
– Amritsar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi enplanes for Delhi after addressing the inaugural session of 6th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia
– Parliament building in Kabul represents our strong commitment to Afghanistan's democratic future: PM Modi
– Herat India-Afghanistan dam aka Salma dam that was launched a few months ago will help revive economic activity for the people there: PM Modi
– We also plan to connect Afghanistan with India through an air transport corridor: PM Modi
– Our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan's development needs must continue and increase: PM Modi
– Not just against forces of terrorism but also against those who support, shelter and finance them: PM Modi
– As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough. It must be backed by a resolute action: PM Modi
– Terrorism and externally induced instability pose the gravest threat too Afghanistan's peace, stability and prosperity: PM Modi
– On India's part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering: PM Modi
– We should all work to build stronger positive connectivity between Afghanistan and other countries of the region: PM Modi
– Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters: PM Modi
– A key Taliban leader has himself admitted to getting sanctuary in Pakistan: Dr. Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan President
– We must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear: PM Modi
– PM identifies four key issues in supporting Afghanistan, beginning with an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned & Afghan-controlled process
PM identifies four key issues in supporting Afghanistan, beginning w/ an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned & Afghan-controlled process pic.twitter.com/rDaHaU7M76
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2016
– Our gathering today re-affirms the commitment of the international community to durable peace and lasting stability in Afghanistan: PM Modi
– Our words and actions remain focus on building, strengthening & securing Afghan's territory and its citizens from external threats: PM Modi
– Pleasure to jointly inaugurate the session of 6th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia with friend and partner Afghanistan President: PM Modi
– PM Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural session of 6th Heart of Asia conference
– Afghanistan suffered the highest number of casualties last year. This is unacceptable: Aghan president Ashraf Ghani
– India's help is with no strings attached: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Heart of Asia
– Heart of Asia is meeting at time of great opportunity in significant threats for Afghanistan for Asia-wide and global implications: Dr A Ghani
– India's support to Afghanistan aimed at improving people's life and is transparent with no strings attached: Afghanistan Pres. Ashraf Ghani
– The project of Chabahar Port between India, Afghanistan and Iran is very important to us for connectivity: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani
– Amritsar: Afghan President Dr.Ashraf Ghani speaking at 6th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia
– There is much to be done to tackle challenges like terrorism and radicalism: Salahuddin Rabbani, Afghan Foreign Minister at Heart of Asia conference
– Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley welcomes delegates at Heart of Asia summit in Amritsar
– Amritsar: Leaders attending Heart of Asia summit pose for a family photograph
A new energy for the #HeartofAsia family. PM @narendramodi and President @ashrafghani take a group picture before the inaugural event pic.twitter.com/tYcmNOAe5V
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2016
– Amritsar: PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with Afghan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani
Beginning together before the #HeartofAsia Ministerial. PM @narendramodi and President @ashrafghani hold an important bilateral meeting pic.twitter.com/BiNN7SMTB9
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) December 4, 2016
– Amritsar: Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz meets Afghanistan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani
– Amritsar: Pakistan PM's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz met Afghanistan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani (pic source: Pak media)
Amritsar: Pak PM's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz met Afghanistan President Dr. Ashraf Ghani #HeartofAsia (pic source: Pak media) pic.twitter.com/ueB1Vt4oTI
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 4, 2016
– Pakistani Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz is representing Islamabad at the Ministerial conference
– The annual conference is taking place amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the audacious terror attack on Nagrota army base and there was no clarity on an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the conclave.
– India had already made it clear that it would never accept continuing cross-border terrorism as the “new normal” in bilateral ties with Pakistan while making it clear that talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of “continued terror”.
– At the senior officials' meeting, Afghanistan, which has also been facing increased attacks from terror groups operating from Pakistan, pushed for a regional counter-terror framework.
– Ahead of the conference, both India and Afghanistan had called terror emanating from Pakistan as the “greatest threat” to regional peace and stability, and both the countries are set to press hard for adopting the counter-terror framework at tomorrow's deliberations. .
– The Conference will discuss peace, cooperation and economic development in Afghanistan.
– The theme for this year's conference is ‘Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity'.
– At the Ministerial Conference, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will lead the Indian delegation in place of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who is unwell.
– Heart of Asia process was launched in 2011 from Istanbul.
– Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the event in Amritsar.
– Eleven Companies of Para Military forces and more than five thousand policemen have been deployed in the city to ensure smooth conduct of the conference.
– Earlier, on Saturday, senior officials of the Heart of Asia process discussed finalising the Amritsar Declaration and adopting the Regional Counter Terrorism Framework drafted by Afghanistan.
Prime Minister @narendramodi & President @ashrafghani at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. pic.twitter.com/gWXvDc0swR
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 3, 2016
– Afghanistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai chaired the meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar.
– Senior officials of all 14 countries and representatives of 17 supporting nations deliberated on a vast range of issues including strategies for eliminating terrorism and enhancing Afghanistan`s connectivity and trade.
– As Afghanistan faces the resurgence of Taliban, a conference of major regional and global powers began on Saturday in Amritsar to explore ways to effectively deal with threat of terrorism in the region, its complex security matrix and help the war-ravaged nation in its transition.
– Being attended by nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union, the annual conference of the Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process is deliberating on various challenges facing Afghanistan, including revival of a peace process in the conflict-ridden country.
– On Saturday, senior officials of all 14 countries, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, and representatives of 17 supporting nations were deliberating on a vast range of issues facing the region including its complex security scenario and dealing with threat of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism.
– Issues like enhancing Afghanistan's connectivity with South and Central Asian countries to boost trade were being discussed at the senior officials' meeting which was co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hikmat Khaleel Karzai.
– Pakistani Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz is representing Islamabad at the Ministerial conference on Sunday which will be jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
– The annual conference is taking place amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the audacious terror attack on Nagrota army base and there was no clarity on an Indo-Pak bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the conclave.
