Obama says, US, India have common goals in Afghanistan

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Leaders of the United States and India on Friday said the two countries had shared interests in Afghanistan, as the war-hit country is on the verge of a critical political juncture. US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a joint press conference at the White House pledged to remain committed to bringing lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan. “We both have a shared interest in making sure that Afghanistan continues on its path to a peaceful, democratic country,” said Obama, adding that the US and India shared an interest in making sure that they helped Afghans stand up for the rights of all groups and that the rights of women and minority groups were protected. Obama stressed the upcoming elections must happen in a way that maintained and continued to strengthen stability in the troubled country. Both the leaders reiterated their commitment to contribute to peace, stability and development in Afghanistan during the critical transformation decade 2015 to 2024. In a joint statement, the two leaders said they reflected on the important strategic partnerships the US and India had formed with Afghanistan. Obama and Singh reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a smooth security and political transition. “The leaders recognized that violent extremists continue to pose challenges to Afghanistan’s security and stability and, in this context, emphasized the need for coordinated international support to help build the capacity of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces,” the joint statement said.