Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 66

SPECIAL REPORT
India-Afghanistan:
A Time Tested Friendship
Prime Minister
meets H.E.
Mohammad Ashraf
Ghani, President of
Afghanistan in New
Delhi (October 24,
2017)
I
ndo-Afghan relations have transitioned
smoothly post 2001, covering areas
such as security, development, and trade
through various bilateral agreements and
high-level visits. The basic framework of the
relations between the two nations have been
further defi ned by the Strategic Partnership
Agreement which was signed in 2011.
Apart from the security dimension, the
Partnership Agreement also covers areas
such as trade and economic cooperation;
capacity development and education; socio-
cultural & civil society; and people to people
relations. The agreement further includes
provision for a high powered implementation
mechanism to achieve the expectations of
the treaty in toto. As per the agreement, four
separate joint working groups - on political
& security consultations, trade and economic
cooperation, capacity development and
education, and social-cultural & civil society
interactions have been set up.
66 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida
To ensure that the bilateral relations get
sustained attention, the numerous existing
dialogue mechanisms between the two
countries have been consolidated and brought
under the Partnership Council. In addition to
this, the two sides regularly conduct strategic
dialogues.
Last year in September, the two nations
held their second meeting of Strategic
Partnership Council in New Delhi. This
was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister
(EAM) of India, Sushma Swaraj, and
Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan, Salahuddin Rabbani. The two
sides discussed issues including politics &
security; trade, commerce and investment
cooperation; New Development Partnership;
people to people contacts; culture; education;
health; and science and technology. Some of
the main points of the meeting are as under:
1) It was agreed to strengthen security
cooperation between the two countries.