Indian support for Afghan development is unconditional: President Ghani

Appreciating India's unconditional support for the economic development of war-ravaged Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday said the expansion of the key Chabahar port between India, Iran and his country was very important for regional trade and connectivity.

Ghani particularly spoke about India's assistance in the construction of Salma dam -- officially called the Afghan-India Friendship Dam -- that was inaugurated on June 4, 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Ghani in Herat province of that country.

"India's support to Afghanistan to improve people's life is transparent with no strings attached," the Afghan President said.

He was addressing the inaugural function of the 6th ministerial 'Heart of Asia conference - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan' in this Punjab city being attended by leaders from south and central Asia and several western countries.

Ghani said the Chabahar port development project "is very important for connectivity and commerce". India and Iran signed a bilateral agreement in May 2016 to refurbish the port on the Gulf of Oman that is expected to provide an alternative route for trade between India and Afghanistan.

--IANS

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