Asserting that it would be a “terrible tragedy” if the Iran nuclear issue was taken to the UN Security Council and not sorted out within the purview of the IAEA, former external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh said that he hoped the need for a vote wouldn’t arise again.

Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Wednesday, Singh said, contrary to popular perception, that he was “a votary of the closest ties” with the US and took “some credit” for the landmark July 18 agreements between President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that ended 30 years of NPT-induced nuclear apartheid for India. The session was moderated by NDTV’s Vikram Chandra.

Speaking on ‘Regional Progress for Peace and Security’, Singh sought greater cooperation between nations to deal with terrorism. He said that “terrorists now have more access to information”, making it an issue that needs to be dealt with as a priority.

Afghanistan’s national security advisor and co-panelist Dr Zalmay Rassoul identified terrorism and narcotic trafficking as the two greatest challenges confronting his country as it strives towards becoming a modern, vibrant nation. He said the recently concluded elections in Afghanistan had brought the “Bonn Process to closure” and with the period of transitional democracy over, “we Afghans feel very much as you did in 1947; we too have now secured our independence”.

Stressing on the importance of better trade ties, crisis management and infrastructure development in the region as vital to peace and security, Rassoul said Afghanistan’s foreign and security strategy was “defensive”. The country, due to its geo-political position, was well placed to become the transit hub to Central Asian countries, being part of a new Silk Route. This would make Afghanistan the newest entrant to Saarc and, often referred to as the heart of Asia, a truly healthy heart.

Concurring with Rassoul, Singh said India was one of the fastest growing economies, and countries in the region should view it as “an indispensable economic partner”. He urged neighbouring nations not to miss the opportunities India’s vast markets provide and allow it to invest in infrastructure in neighbouring nations so they can also become stakeholders in India’s economic destiny. “India is prepared to make its neighbours full stakeholders in its economic destiny and through such cooperation, in creating a truly vibrant and globally competitive South Asian Economic Community.”