PM Modi completes first leg of five-nation tour, next stop Doha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday afternoon left for Doha, concluding his first leg of five nation tour in Afghanistan.

During his visit in Herat today, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani conferred him with the country's highest civilian honour, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award.

The award was conferred after the two leaders jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as the Salma Dam, which was rebuilt with India's aid.

Inaugurating the Dam, Prime Minister Modi said the event marked a 'historic moment' of emotion and pride in the relations between Afghanistan and India.

Salma Dam is a landmark infrastructure project undertaken by the Indian government on the River Chist-e-Sharif, in Herat.

The Afghan-India Friendship Dam is a multipurpose project planned for generating 42 megawatt of power, irrigating 75000 hectares of land, water supply and other benefits to the people of Afghanistan.

Prior to his departure, Prime Minister also visited Indian Consulate here.

"Meeting the men who make our friendship work. PM visits Indian Consulate in Herat, interacts with personnel," Vikas Swarup, the Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA) spokesperson tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi will be arriving in Doha, the capital of Qatar today evening.

Apart from holding meeting with the Emir of Qatar to further strengthen bilateral relations, he will also visit workers' camp and also hold meeting with business leaders.

"Look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Tamim whose landmark visit to India last year had ushered in a new momentum in our relations. I will have the honour to meet Father Emir who personally guided our relations for nearly two decades. This visit will nourish the historical bonds of friendship deeply rooted in people to people contacts, energy, trade and investment partnership," said PM in the FB post.

The Prime Minister in his post also added that he will speak to Qatar business leaders to realise the full potential of our trade and investment cooperation.