India-Afghanistan ties renewed during foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's two day visit

In the first diplomatic foray outside India, following the takeover of a new Government in India, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh was on a two day visit to Afghanistan to meet with all sections of the Afghan leadership.

According to official sources, she called on President Karzai and both the Presidential candidates- Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani.

In all these interactions there was uniform condemnation of the attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat and assured her that Afghanistan is committed to ensuring full safety for the Indian Embassy in Kabul and 4 Consulates in Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif.

They also emphasised to her that whatever the outcome of the forthcoming elections and the orientation of the new leadership, friendship with India would remain a "top priority" for any new Government of Afghanistan as India-Afghanistan relations are deep rooted and civilisational and will continue to be nurtured.

As per official sources during the visit she spent a day in Herat and met the Governor of the province Sayed Fazulllah Wahedi and thanked him for the support provided to ensure the safety of the Indian Consulate in Herat and complimented the Afghan forces for their valour in thwarting the attackers.

She also surveyed the premises of the Consulate and it was agreed that the Indian Consulate in Herat will resume provision of visas soon and if necessary it would move to a more secure location at the earliest.

Following her visit to Kandahar, yesterday, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had stayed in Kabul last night and interacted with staff at India's Embassy in Kabul, assuring them that Government of India is fully committed to working with the local Government to ensure their safety and welfare.