After inaugurating dam, Modi leaves Afghanistan for Qatar

After inaugurating the Salma dam, one of India's major reconstruction works in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left Herat for Doha, Qatar, on the second leg of his five-nation tour.

"Long live India-Afghan friendship! A short but momentous visit ends as PM departs for Qatar on the second leg of his tour," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Modi, who arrived here on Saturday, inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The dam has been rebuilt with Indian assistance.

The Prime Minister also visited the Indian consulate in Herat that had come under a terror attack in May 2014 and interacted with consular staff.

The visit to Afghanistan is Modi's second in the course of the past five months. He was in Kabul last December to inaugurate the new Afghan Parliament, which was also built by India.

After reaching Doha later on Saturday, Modi is scheduled to visit an Indian workers' camp.

He will also be hosted for dinner by Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani on Saturday evening.

After Qatar, Modi will also visit Switzerland, the US and Mexico.

--IANS

ab/rn/bg