Afghanistan: 'vested interests' irk India

Defence Minister AK Antony expresses concern over the resurgence of Taliban and accuses certain vested interests for scuttling India's role in rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, India on Monday accused "vested interests" for scuttling role of New Delhi in rebuilding war-ravaged Afghanistan.

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Expressing concern over the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, Defence Minister AK Antony said "certain vested interests are trying to scuttle our role in rebuilding Afghanistan."

"We are committed to support this (rebuilding) process and help Afghanistan to emerge as a stable, democratic state," the Defence Minister said while inaugurating the two-day Unified Commander's-in-Chief conference in New Delhi.

India has already despatched a fresh batch of commondos to Afghanistan from the Indian Tibetan Border Police to protect the Indian projects and those working there.

During his address to the top brass of Army, Indian Air Force and the Navy, Antony delved on the security scenario in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond. "The most crucial challenge facing is in the near future is growing instablity in our neighbourhood."

He said the rising tide of religious fundamentalism and cross border terrorism continued unabated and this had affected "our regional securty environment too."

The conference has been called to draw a roadmap for the transformation of the Forces to meet the varied security challenges. "The transformation plan must be developed under the overreaching principle of jointness for highest efficacy," he said while expressing confidence that the plan was not only "efficient and cost effective but also keeping in pace with the changing times."