KABUL (Pajhwok): India has assured Afghanistan of continued support at a high-level meeting between top diplomats from the two countries in Dubai.
Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri respectively represented Afghanistan and India at Wednesday’s meeting.
NDTV reported the agenda was aimed to boost bilateral ties across different sectors, including humanitarian aid, developmental assistance, trade, regional security and projects like the Chabahar Port in Iran.
The port offers a key supply route for goods to reach Afghanistan, as Islamabad remains reluctant to let Delhi use the land route for supplies to Kabul.
India pledged more humanitarian support to Afghanistan, including priority assistance in the healthcare sector, supply of medicines and rehabilitation of refugees.
Over the past few years, New Delhi has has delivered 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 300 tonnes of medicines, 27 tonnes of earthquake relief aid, 40,000 litres of pesticides and 00 million polio doses to Afghanistan.
Kabul has also received from Delhi 1.5 million doses of the Covid vaccine, 11,000 units of hygiene kits for the drug de-addiction programme, 500 units of winter clothing and 1.2 tonnes of stationery kits.
The two sides agreed to promote the use of Chabahar port for supporting trade and commercial activities, including for the purpose of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
On the occasion, Misri underlined the importance India accorded to its historic, civilisational, and cultural relations with Afghanistan.
"The foreign secretary underlined India's historic friendship with the Afghan people and the strong people-to-people contacts between the two countries," the foreign ministry in Delhi said.
Sports, especially cricket, which is loved in both countries, also figured at the talks. Both sides agreed to strengthen their sporting ties.
In Kabul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the facilitation of trade and visa processes were also discussed by the diplomats.
Muttaqi said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) wanted to strengthen political and economic relations with India -- an important and economically strong country in the region.
PAN Monitor/mud
