 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani inaugurates Afghan-India Friendship Dam in Herat, Afghanistan. Photo: PTI")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday inaugurated a landmark dam built by India in Herat province. The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, on river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat, will irrigate 75,000-hectare land and generate 42-Mw power.
Modi, who landed in Afghanistan for a brief visit before leaving for Qatar, was conferred with the Amir Amanullah Khan Award, Afghanistan's highest civilian honour.
Modi said, unfazed by terror attacks on Indian missions and barriers of politics and geography, India will continue to extend cooperation in war-torn Afghanistan.
He said other countries may have a "sunset clause" but India's ties with Afghanistan remain "timeless".
"Our resources may be modest, but our will is boundless. For others, their commitments may have a sunset clause, but our relationship is timeless. We face barriers of geography and politics, but we define our path from the clarity of our purpose," he said in an address after inaugurating the dam.
Modi hailed the people of Afghanistan for denouncing terrorism and said division among them will only help those seeking to "dominate" the nation from outside.
"It was a war not of Afghan making, but it was one that stole the future of an entire generation of Afghans," he said. He added that when Afghanistan succeeds in defeating terrorism, the world will be "safer and more beautiful".
"This dam has not been built by bricks and mortar, but by the faith of our friendship and the valour of Afghans and Indians. And, at this moment of pride, we also stand in grief and gratitude for lives sacrificed so that Afghan people will have a future they so richly deserve and so deeply desire," Modi said.
Resolving to stand by Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said India's cooperation will extend to "every part" of the war-torn country and that the partnership will benefit every section of Afghan society.
"In your clear eyes, I saw the deep well of affection for India. In your smiles, I saw the joy of this relationship. In the firmness of your embrace, I felt the trust in our friendship," Modi said.
In his 25-minute-long speech, Modi touched upon the peace process in Afghanistan, the terrorist attack on Indian Consulate in Herat and the reconstruction activities in that country.
"When our people are under attack, the brave Afghans guard us as their own. They put themselves in the line of fire so that their Indian friends are safe. This is the nobility of your heart and the strength of your friendship. I have seen this from the moment I assumed office as Prime Minister. For on that day, when terrorists launched a massive attack on our Consulate in this city of Herat, the heroic efforts of Afghan soldiers, and of our personnel, saved many lives and prevented a big tragedy," he said, referring to the 2014 attack on the Indian mission here.
In the past, the Indian embassy in Kabul has been attacked twice and its mission in Jalalabad was targetted by a suicide bomber in March this year. The Prime Minister said there has been "resistance" and "suspicion" from others about India's role in Afghanistan but its resolve was strong that will guide it forward in ensuring the country's prosperity. Without naming any country, Modi said India drew strength and confidence from Afghanistan's deep commitment to "protect" the partnership from the "designs" of others. "With resolve and patience, courage and belief, we have together overcome distance and hurdles, threats and violence," said Modi.
