Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 67

SPECIAL REPORT
India agreed to further extend assistance for
the Afghan National Defence and Security
Forces in fighting terrorism, organised
crime, traffi cking of narcotics and money
laundering.
2) India reiterated its support for an
Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and
reconciliation process. It was agreed that
concrete, meaningful, and verifi able steps
for the immediate cessation of violence were
essential for the success of regional and
international efforts to promote peace and
stability in Afghanistan.
3) The two sides welcomed the
establishment of the Air Cargo Corridor
between Kabul and Kandahar with New
Delhi in June 2017. It was agreed to expand
the corridor to include other cities in
Afghanistan and India, as well as to increase
the frequency of the cargo fl ights between
the two countries.
4) Both countries reaffi rmed the importance
of connectivity through free and unfettered
transport and transit access for Afghanistan
and Central Asia. They agreed to work
towards the expeditious operationalisation of
the Chahbahar Port in Iran under the Trilateral
Agreement for Establishment of International
Transport and Transit Corridor, which was
signed in May 2016. In this context, India
and Afghanistan agreed to explore joint
investments. The Afghan side welcomed
the imminent commencement of wheat
shipments of 170,000 metric tons from India
to Afghanistan via Chahbahar Port.
5) It was further agreed to implement the
following new projects under grant-in-aid
assistance from India:
• Shahtoot Dam and drinking water
project for Kabul that would also facilitate
irrigation;
• Low cost housing for returning Afghan
refugees in Nangarhar Province to promote
resettlement;
• Road connectivity to Band-e-Amir
in Bamyan Province that would promote
economic development and tourism to the
National Park;
• Water supply network for Charikar city
in Parwan Province;
• Establishment of a Gypsum board
manufacturing plant in Kabul to promote
value added industry; and
• Construction of a polyclinic in Mazar-
e-Sharif.
During the meeting, the following bilateral
documents were signed and exchanged:
• Motor Vehicles Agreement for the
Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo
Vehicular Traffi c;
• Memorandum of Understanding between
the National Medicine and Healthcare
Both countries
reaffi rmed the
importance of
connectivity
through free
and unfettered
transport and
transit access for
Afghanistan and
Central Asia.
External Affairs
Minister calls on
H.E. Mohammad
Ashraf Ghani,
President of
Afghanistan in New
Delhi (October 24,
2017)
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida • 67