Delhi, Kabul ink pact for visa-free travel of envoys

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met the Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah, and expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Afghanistan for their bravery in protecting Indians when the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif was attacked early this month.

An agreement for visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries was also exchanged in the presence of Modi and Abdullah Abdullah. Later in the day, Abdullah Abdullah also met Sushma Swaraj.  

“Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude towards the government and the National Security Forces of Afghanistan for their bravery and sacrifice in order to protect the Indians, especially during the attack on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif on January 4-5, 2016”, said the press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs today.

It is learnt that during the meeting, both leaders shared views on further deepening the India-Afghanistan relationship, both in the ‘bilateral and regional context’. 

Abdullah Abdullah, who is on a five-day visit to India, recalled positively the maiden visit of Modi to Afghanistan in December last year. Modi’s visit, he said, “reenergised the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

“He deeply appreciated the support being extended by India for infrastructure development and capacity building in Afghanistan’, said the press release. Abdullah Abdullah is in India to attend a counter-terrorism conference being held in Jaipur where he will be presenting the key-note address.