M A I N   N E W S

India hikes Afghan aid by $ 100 million

Kabul, January 23
The Indian Government today hiked its grant to Afghanistan for its reconstruction and development by $100 million, raising its aid assistance to $ 750 million.

The announcement was made by visiting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee at the start of his two-day official visit to the Afghan capital.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta here, Mukherjee also confirmed the signing of a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on capacity building, involving India, Afghanistan and the UNDP.

According to the MoU, civil servants from India and UNDP will train their Afghan counterparts in the nuances of diplomacy. Within the ambit of the MoU, a small development programme has been incorporated under which the Indian Government will sponsor and finance Afghan projects worth under a million dollars.

When asked what was preventing Indian goods from reaching Pakistan in an effective manner, Mukherjee said Islamabad needed to open more transit points on land.

“I emphasise that we should improve our relations as this will strengthen the region. Our (India’s) policy is to improve relations with all of our neighbours,” he further said.

Earlier in the day, Mukherjee inaugurated a plaque to mark the opening of Indira Gandhi Street, which passes through the Indira Gandhi Hospital. He also officially handed over the Indira Gandhi Polyclinic to Afghanistan, besides a consignment of medicines manufactured in India. The polyclinic has been built with Indian aid.

During the handing-over ceremony, Mukherjee said personally it was a great feeling for him to dedicate something in the name of Indira Gandhi as she was responsible for his induction into politics and the Congress.

Mukherjee also met the Speaker of the Afghan Parliament Yunus Qanooni and extended an invitation to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to attend the 14th SAARC Summit to be held in New Delhi in April. — ANI