Invest in infrastructure projects, IEA urges India

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has urged India to invest in infrastructure projects in the war-torn South Asian country.

Suhail Shaheen, the head of Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said in an interview: “Afghanistan is open for Indian investment, including in urban infrastructure.”

Speaking to The Hindu, he referred to a meeting between a Taliban delegation and the head of mission of the Indian embassy in Kabul.

The Taliban minister of urban development recently conveyed the same message to the Indian charge d’affaires in Kabul.

Shaheen said Minister Hamdullah Nomani and Indian Charge d’Affaires Bharat Kumar conferred on investments and a number of projects.

A number of Indian firms were implementing health and power infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, but they left the country after last year’s political change.

Shaheen said India could resume work on the projects initiated during the Ashraf Ghani government. The Indians could also invest in fresh schemes, he added.

“Security of Indians is our responsibility and we assure them,” Shaheen remarked, promising a peaceful work environment for the Indian companies.

India’s public and private firms have invested about $3billion in Afghanistan’s infrastructure sector and other spheres over the last 20 years.

PAN Monitor/mud