Press Release
Visit of the External Affairs Minister to Afghanistan
22/01/2009
1. At the invitation of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister (EAM), Republic of India, visited Afghanistan on 21-22 Jan. 09.
2. During the visit, EAM called on H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, and held discussions with Foreign Minister Dr. Spanta on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
3. The two Ministers underlined their strategic partnership, based on abiding historical and cultural ties, expressed their satisfaction on the progress of bilateral development and reconstruction projects, and reviewed the status of future programmes.
4. Today, President Karzai and EAM jointly inaugurated the 218 Km landmark Zaranj - Delaram road project in the south-western Afghanistan connecting the capital of Nimroz Province to the Herat-Kandahar highway. This road, together with 60 kilometres of inner-city roads in Zaranj and Gurguri, was recently completed by India at a cost of US $150 million. The project symbolises India's strong commitment towards the development of Afghanistan.
5. India will also shortly be completing the Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul transmission line and sub-station at Chimtala. In this connection, on the request of the Government of Afghanistan, India will also construct an additional sub-station at Charikar for which the design and tendering work has been done and final award is awaited.
6. The two Foreign Ministers also jointly launched the restoration of Stor Palace within the precincts of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
7. Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to combat terrorism and reiterated that all countries should comply with their multilateral and international obligations and should fully control terrorist activities emanating from the sanctuaries and camps located within their territory.
New Delhi
22 January, 2009