India Spells Out Its Development Assistance At 2020 Afghanistan Conference
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation at the “2020 Afghanistan Conference” that was organized in Geneva this week virtually. The Conference was co-hosted by the United Nations, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the Government of Finland. It aimed at reaffirming the commitment of the International community to Afghanistan during the second half of the transformational decade 2015-2024.
The External Affairs Minister announced that India had just concluded with Afghanistan an agreement for the construction of the ‘Shatoot’ Dam, which would provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul city. India had earlier built the 202-km Phul-e-Khumri transmission line that provided electricity to Kabul city. Dr. Jaishankar also announced the launch of Phase-IV of the High Impact Community Development Projects in Afghanistan, which envisages more than 100 projects worth US$ 80 million that India would undertake in Afghanistan. The Minister emphasized India’s long term commitment to the development of Afghanistan and the benefit of its people as a contiguous neighbour and strategic partner.
India’s development portfolio in Afghanistan has to-date amounted to over US$ 3 billion. External Affairs Minister highlighted that no part of Afghanistan today is untouched by the 400 plus projects that India has undertaken in all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces.
He pointed out that Afghanistan’s growth has been constrained by its land locked geography and highlighted India’s efforts to provide an alternate connectivity through Chabahar port and a dedicated Air Freight Corridor between India and Afghanistan. India’s humanitarian assistance of 75,000 tonnes of wheat to strengthen food security of Afghanistan during the Covid-19 pandemic has been transported through Chabahar port.
India has invested heavily in peace and development in Afghanistan and believes that the gains of the last two decades must be preserved and the interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections must be ensured. The External Affairs Minister expressed concern regarding the increasing level of violence in Afghanistan and reiterated India’s call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
As an important stakeholder, India looks forward to walk hand in hand with the people of Afghanistan and world community in working towards a peaceful, prosperous, sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan. As contiguous neighbours, India and Afghanistan share a natural historical relationship. India’s strategic partnership and long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan reflects these time-tested partnership.
India’s development portfolio of more than US$ 3 billion for Afghanistan is aimed at building capacities and capabilities of Afghan nationals as well as its institutions with a view to improve governance and public service. Afghanistan has immensely benefitted from India’s over 400 development projects, spread across all its’ 34 provinces. This has led to a better life for ordinary Afghans.
India’s ongoing developmental programmes are centred on five pillars: large infrastructure projects; human resource development and capacity building; humanitarian assistance; High impact community development projects; and enhancing trade and investment through air and land connectivity.
India’s large infrastructure projects completed include construction of 218 Kms. road from Delaram to Zaranj (on the Afghan-Iranian border) which provides alternate connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran; India–Afghanistan friendship dam; and the Afghan Parliament building which was inaugurated in 2015. This is the best symbol of Afghan democracy.
More than 65,000 Afghan students have studied in India under various scholarship programmes. Presently, 15,000 students are presently studying in India. 3000 scholarships so far have been granted to young Afghan women to pursue higher studies in India. Going beyond basic education, New Delhi also provided vocational training to a large number of women in Afghanistan. This number is expected to increase every year with India’s long term commitment to help rebuild Afghanistan.
Dr. Jaishankar said, Afghanistan’s growth has been constrained by its land locked geography and this needs to be addressed. Through Chabahar port, India has provided an alternate connectivity to Afghanistan. India also sent more than 20 tonnes of life saving medicines and other equipment to address the Covid-19 challenge in Afghanistan.
Script: Padam Singh, AIR: News Analyst
The External Affairs Minister announced that India had just concluded with Afghanistan an agreement for the construction of the ‘Shatoot’ Dam, which would provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents of Kabul city. India had earlier built the 202-km Phul-e-Khumri transmission line that provided electricity to Kabul city. Dr. Jaishankar also announced the launch of Phase-IV of the High Impact Community Development Projects in Afghanistan, which envisages more than 100 projects worth US$ 80 million that India would undertake in Afghanistan. The Minister emphasized India’s long term commitment to the development of Afghanistan and the benefit of its people as a contiguous neighbour and strategic partner.
India’s development portfolio in Afghanistan has to-date amounted to over US$ 3 billion. External Affairs Minister highlighted that no part of Afghanistan today is untouched by the 400 plus projects that India has undertaken in all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces.
He pointed out that Afghanistan’s growth has been constrained by its land locked geography and highlighted India’s efforts to provide an alternate connectivity through Chabahar port and a dedicated Air Freight Corridor between India and Afghanistan. India’s humanitarian assistance of 75,000 tonnes of wheat to strengthen food security of Afghanistan during the Covid-19 pandemic has been transported through Chabahar port.
India has invested heavily in peace and development in Afghanistan and believes that the gains of the last two decades must be preserved and the interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections must be ensured. The External Affairs Minister expressed concern regarding the increasing level of violence in Afghanistan and reiterated India’s call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
As an important stakeholder, India looks forward to walk hand in hand with the people of Afghanistan and world community in working towards a peaceful, prosperous, sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan. As contiguous neighbours, India and Afghanistan share a natural historical relationship. India’s strategic partnership and long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan reflects these time-tested partnership.
India’s development portfolio of more than US$ 3 billion for Afghanistan is aimed at building capacities and capabilities of Afghan nationals as well as its institutions with a view to improve governance and public service. Afghanistan has immensely benefitted from India’s over 400 development projects, spread across all its’ 34 provinces. This has led to a better life for ordinary Afghans.
India’s ongoing developmental programmes are centred on five pillars: large infrastructure projects; human resource development and capacity building; humanitarian assistance; High impact community development projects; and enhancing trade and investment through air and land connectivity.
India’s large infrastructure projects completed include construction of 218 Kms. road from Delaram to Zaranj (on the Afghan-Iranian border) which provides alternate connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran; India–Afghanistan friendship dam; and the Afghan Parliament building which was inaugurated in 2015. This is the best symbol of Afghan democracy.
More than 65,000 Afghan students have studied in India under various scholarship programmes. Presently, 15,000 students are presently studying in India. 3000 scholarships so far have been granted to young Afghan women to pursue higher studies in India. Going beyond basic education, New Delhi also provided vocational training to a large number of women in Afghanistan. This number is expected to increase every year with India’s long term commitment to help rebuild Afghanistan.
Dr. Jaishankar said, Afghanistan’s growth has been constrained by its land locked geography and this needs to be addressed. Through Chabahar port, India has provided an alternate connectivity to Afghanistan. India also sent more than 20 tonnes of life saving medicines and other equipment to address the Covid-19 challenge in Afghanistan.
Script: Padam Singh, AIR: News Analyst
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