Afghan, India officials talk expansion of ties

KABUL (Pajhwok): In a first, an Indian diplomat held meetings with senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and discussed ways of expanding bilateral relations.

Minister of Defence Maulvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid met JP Singh, joint secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, in his office in Kabul.

In a post on X, MoD wrote the two sides emphasised their common desire to expand bilateral relations, especially in the field of humanitarian cooperation.

They expressed a keen interest in further strengthening interaction between Afghanistan and India.

Singh also held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi and former president Hamid Karzai.

In a statement, MoFA said Muttaqi met Singh and both sides discussed political and economic ties between Afghanistan and India, as well as the issue travel for Afghans.

Muttaqi emphasised that to further develop trade relations, it is essential to ease the issuance of Indian visas for Afghan citizens, especially for businessmen.

Singh said his country considered its ties with Afghanistan important and noted the two nations shared an ancient historical relationship.

He added alongside humanitarian aid, India had also started developmental assistance to Afghanistan and was currently engaged in technical discussions with the relevant authorities.

He also said in the near future, technical talks would be held between the countries of the region, Afghanistan, and India, regarding the Chabahar port.

He pledged further facilitation of Indian visas for Afghans.

In a post on X, Karzai said he and Singh had discussed the long-standing and historic ties between the two countries and underlined the need for strengthening bilateral ties.

He said more attention should be paid to the education and training of Afghan youth, developing trade and easing travel between the two sides.

sa/mud