Ghani, Modi may sign dam project agreement today

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to sign an agreement for the Shahtoot dam project worth $286 million today (Tuesday).

Shahtoot dam, which will supply drinking water to two million inhabitants of Kabul, will be the second such project that India will implement in Afghanistan.

Earlier, India funded the construction of Salma dam in western Herat province at a cost of 300 million dollars, overcoming formidable security and logistical challenges.

An Indian media outlet called Shahtoot dam a very important project as Afghanistan’s overpopulated capital has been facing a growing water crisis for years.

India Today quoted unnamed sources as saying the two sides would also confer on counter-terrorism cooperation and shared concerns over the scourge of cross-border terrorism.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar would also attend the virtual meeting.

Meanwhile, Atmar tweeted: "My profound gratitude to my friend Dr S Jaishankar, the government and people of India for assisting 500,000 dozes of "Made in India" vaccine to address Covid spread in Afghanistan…”

PAN Monitor/mud