India has said the regrouping of the Taliban in Afghanistan is a cause of concern "as some of these elements" were infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir to carry out terrorism and acts of violence there.
The re-emergence of Taliban forces in Afghanistan and the situation in Lebanon figured prominently in talks here on Monday between visiting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie.
Alliot-Marie said both India and France shared the perception that at no cost should Taliban forces be allowed to gain ground in Afghanistan.
"The two countries shared perceptions that Taliban and forces like Al-Qaeda were trying to re-emerge in Afghanistan, which is a cause of common concern," she said.
Mukherjee said it was a cause of concern for India too as "as some of these elements" were infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir.
Alliot-Marie said major countries like the US, Britain and nations of the region had to jointly frame a strategy to decimate these forces.
"It is in the interest of Afghanistan that democracy prevails and the government clamps down hard on Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces," Mukherjee said.
{{/usCountry}}"It is in the interest of Afghanistan that democracy prevails and the government clamps down hard on Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces," Mukherjee said.
{{/usCountry}}