The sixth edition of Heart of Asia Conference to begin Saturday would most probably adopt a regional counter-terrorism framework. Being held in the wake of brazen Nagrota terror attack, the annual conference which provides a platform to assist Afghanistan in its transition, is set to discuss threat from terror networks operating from the Pakistani soil and may even push for some concrete action to deal with it but any formal dialogue between India and Pakistan seems unlikely as both countries have abstained from making any formal request for a bilateral dialogue during the summit. Terrorism is the greatest threat facing the region. After Pakistan and China cooperation in Gwadar economic promotion corridor now the stress would be to go ahead with Chabahar project with India, Afghanistan and Iran as stake holders. The trilateral trade and transit agreement would promote Chabahar as a viable transit hub to other friendly countries. India and Afghanistan conducted a joint press conference on Wednesday in preparation of the ministerial in Amritsar, where the Afghan envoy to India, Shaila Abdali, in an oblique reference to Pakistan stressed on the need to uproot the “breeding ground” of the terror menace and its “safe sanctuaries”. Following the Nagrota terror attack on Tuesday, there would be little appetite in the Indian system to deal with Pakistan. The theme will be connectivity and increasing security in and around the Afghan region. The discussions will revolve primarily on peace, cooperation and economic growth in Afghanistan and neighbouring regions. India is the co-chair and host this time and Afghanistan is the permanent chair of the conference. Representatives of as many as 40 countries will attend the event. Austria, Latvia and Uzbekistan have requested to be the observers at the meet. The Heart of Asia or Istanbul Process conference was established as a platform to address regional issues, encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours.
