India commits to support rebuilding of Afghanistan

Discussions at the Delhi Policy Group yesterday underscored the commitment of India to support war-torn Afghanistan to rebuild its infrastructure and economy.

The Delhi Policy Group, an independent think-tank, presented ideas and recommendations in its annual report titled 'Afghanistan 2015: The Quest for National Unity', for maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The event was attended by researchers, scholars and students, including former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid.

The conference highlighted Afghanistan's economic, political and security situation and how regional powers should cooperate to help the country in attaining peace and stability.

The discussion emphasized on the presence of China and Pakistan in mediating the peace process in Afghanistan and also focused on ways to improve trade relations in order to promote economic development of the country.

Khurshid recalled that India has contributed a great deal in rebuilding the war-ravaged country but more needs to be done.

Khurshid said India should be more active in helping Afghanistan in institution building and training their personnel.

"We are giving 1000 scholarships a year but I think whatever we are doing is not enough. I think we need to raise our profile in Afghanistan," he said.

Bilateral ties between India and Afghanistan has been strengthened after the recent visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to India.

"It is the continuity of the strategic relationship between Afghanistan and India. The visit took place at the right time. The review of the progress in bilateral cooperation that we have under the strategic partnership agreement were discussed by our President and Indian leadership and we are going to be implementing what was discussed and what has been decided by our two leaders in this state visit," said Shaida Mohammad Abdali , Afghanistan's Ambassador to India.

New Delhi has had close ties with Kabul since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. India has granted Afghanistan $2.2 billion in aid over the past decade

"What President Ghani's visit has established is that the Indian role will continue to be as important as it has been in the past. With a new government and new ministers in Afghanistan, the relationship would improve in the next few months. " said Dr. Radha Kumar, Director General, Delhi Policy Group.

A positive step is the decision of India to invest in Iran's southern Chabahar port, which will help in providing a transit route to connect Iran via Afghanistan. (ANI)

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