India will continue to back Afghanistan's rebuilding: Khurshid

Reaffirming its commitment for a stable Afghanistan, India today said it will continue to strongly support the war-torn country in its rebuilding and transformation and sought "concrete" measures for increasing participation by Indian businessmen in diverse trade areas there.

Addressing a conference on Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India has "greatest confidence" in Afghanistan's potential and it will have an "open arm approach" in extending all help and cooperation to that country.

"When you suffer, we also suffer with you. When you rejoice, we also rejoice," he said, adding, "We stand by you and promise you our constant support."

"We in India have no exit policy. We are not going anywhere unless you want us to go. As long as you want us to be there, we will be there," the External Affairs Minister said.

India has been engaged in various infrastructure development projects in Afghanistan.

Seeking better opportunies for Indian businessmen there, he said "concrete steps" are needed to be taken so that they see the "enoromous potential" in that country.

Talking about the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project, Khurshid said he was hopeful about it.

Observing that there is huge scope for increasing trade among Afghanistan, India and Iran by enhancing connectivity, he said the entire region was going through some sort of transformation.

Hoping that the democratic process in that country will be successful, he said destinies of both the nations are interlinked and emergence of a stable Afghansitan will help the entire region.