India, Oct. 17 -- India and the Central Asian states agreed on Thursday to work closely with Afghanistan to address security challenges and to foster connectivity and economic development.

The decision was made at a meeting of national security advisers and senior security officials of India and the five Central Asian states held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. India was represented by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The meeting, held against the backdrop of fierce clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, discussed ways to enhance cooperation in countering terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and narcotics trafficking, according to a readout from the external affairs ministry.

The NSAs and security officials emphasis...