19-Feb-2022: PM meets Afghanistan Sikh-Hindu Delegation

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met members of the Sikh-Hindu Delegation from Afghanistan at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today. They honoured the Prime Minister and thanked him for bringing Sikhs and Hindus safely to India from Afghanistan.

Prime Minister welcomed the delegation and said that they are not guests but are in their own house, adding that India is their home. He talked about the immense difficulties faced by them in Afghanistan and the help provided by the government to bring them to India safely.  In this light, he also talked about the significance of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and its benefits for the community. He assured them of continuous support in future as well to resolve all issues and difficulties faced by them.

Prime Minister also talked about the significance of the tradition of honouring Guru Granth Sahib, in light of which special arrangements were made to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. He talked about the immense love that he has received from Afghans over the years and fondly recalled his visit to Kabul.

Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa thanked the Prime Minister for sending help from India for bringing back the community safely, and said that when no one stood with them, the Prime Minister ensured constant support and timely help. Other members of the delegation also thanked the Prime Minister for standing up for them in times of distress. They said that they had tears in their eyes when they heard him talking about making special arrangements to bring back Swaroop of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan to India with proper reverence. They also thanked him for bringing about CAA, which will be of immense help for members of their community. They said that he is not just the Prime Minister of India, but the Prime Minister of the world since he understands the difficulties faced especially by Hindus and Sikhs across the world and makes all out efforts to provide immediate help in all such cases. Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi were also present on the occasion.

23-Mar-2021: Cabinet approves signing of an MoU between Union Public Service Commission, India and Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Services Commission, Afghanistan

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), India and Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Services Commission (IARCSC), Afghanistan.

The MoU will strengthen the relationship between IARCSC and UPSC. It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment.

Salient Features of the MoU:

1. Exchange of experience on modern approach to public service recruitment and selection, particularly the functions of the UPSC and the IARCSC.
2. Exchange of information and expertise including books, manuals and other documents which are not of a confidential nature.
3. Sharing of expertise in the use of Information Technology (IT) in the preparation of written examinations and holding of Computer Based Recruitment Tests and Online Examinations.
4. Sharing of experience in Single Window System for expeditious scrutiny and speedy disposal of applications.
5. Sharing of experience and expertise on various processes involved in examination system.
6. Organize training sessions for officials, including short attachments to the Parties’ secretariat/headquarters on all matters concerned by the respective mandate of the parties.
7. vii. Sharing of experience on the modalities adopted on adult of processes and procedures followed by various Government Agencies in recruitment of posts under the delegated power.

9-Feb-2021: Signing ceremony of MoU for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan

A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan took place over VTC on 9 February 2021. The MoU was signed by EAM Dr. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Mr. Hanif Atmar, in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of Afghanistan H.E. Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The project is a part of the New Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan. The Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam would meet the safe drinking water needs of Kabul City, provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.

This is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and the President in June 2016. Signing of the MoU on Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam is a reflection of India’s strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the enduring partnership between our two countries. As a part of our Development Cooperation with Afghanistan, India has completed more than 400 projects covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister, in his remarks, highlighted the civilisational relationship between India and Afghanistan and gave an assurance of India's continued support for a peaceful, united, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan.

17-May-2020: Ghani and Abdullah sign power-sharing deal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, signalling the end of a months-long stalemate that plunged the country into a political crisis.

The breakthrough, which sees Abdullah heading peace talks with the Taliban, comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus and surging violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.

Post September 2019 elections in Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah both declared themselves the winner of the presidential election leading to political disarray in the war-torn nation. They have been locked in a power struggle since then.

A peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban calls for U.S. and NATO troops to leave Afghanistan.

The U.S. has been trying to get the Taliban and the Afghan Government to begin intra-Afghan negotiations, but the political turmoil and personal acrimony between Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdullah have impeded talks.

As per the concluded political deal, Mr. Ghani would remain President of Afghanistan, while Mr. Abdullah would lead Afghanistan’s National Reconciliation High Council and some members of Abdullah’s team would be included in Ghani’s Cabinet. The Reconciliation Council has been given the authority to handle and approve all affairs related to Afghanistan’s peace process and talks with the Taliban. The agreement is expected to speed up the intra-Afghan dialogue preparations that have been delayed.

India has welcomed the agreement and hopes that the political agreement and creation of the High Council of National Reconciliation will result in renewed efforts for establishing enduring peace and stability; and putting an end to externally sponsored terrorism and violence.

25-Feb-2019: Afghanistan launches new export route to India through Iran

Afghanistan began exports to India through an Iranian port, as the landlocked, war-torn nation turns to overseas markets to improve its economy.

23 trucks carrying 57 tonnes of dried fruits, textiles, carpets and mineral products were dispatched from western Afghan city of Zaranj to Iran's Chabahar port. The consignment will be shipped to the Indian city of Mumbai.

At the inauguration of the new export route, President Ashraf Ghani said Afghanistan was slowly improving its exports in a bid to reduce its trade deficit.

Chabahar port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan this will ensure economic growth.

The Iranian port provides easy access to the sea to Afghanistan and India has helped developed this route to allow both countries to engage in trade bypassing Pakistan.

Last year the U.S. government granted an exception to certain U.S. sanctions that allowed development of Chabahar port as part of a new transportation corridor designed to boost Afghanistan’s economy and meet their needs of non-sanctionable goods such as food and medicines.

India has sent 1.1 million tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of lentils to Afghanistan through Chabahar.

Both countries established an air corridor in 2017. Afghan exports to India stood at $740 million in 2018, making it the largest export destination.

24-Oct-2018: Cabinet approves MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Certified Professional Accountants Afghanistan (CPA Afghanistan)

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Certified Professional Accountants Afghanistan (CPA Afghanistan).  The MoU will establish mutual co-operation framework in the areas of Capacity Building of "Afghanistan Accountancy Board (AAB)", strengthening the IT Capacity and Quality Assurance in Afghanistan through facilitating Knowledge Transfer; Students and Members Exchange Programs; Conduct of Seminars, Conferences and Joint Activities mutually beneficial to both the parties.

Targets:

• Students and members exchange programs from their respective jurisdictions so as to update them on the emerging developments in the areas of accounting profession either in the form of study tours or as may be mutually decided by both the Institutions;
• Providing updates on the development of the accountancy profession in India, and promote international good professional practices;
• Strengthening the quality assurance setup in Afghanistan through facilitating knowledge transfer to help implement regime of necessary quality controls and periodic reviews in Afghanistan.

Major impact: India and Afghanistan share a very strong partnership based on historical and cultural links. In the recent past, the partnership between the two countries has touched new heights when India's Afghanistan policy shifted to a more confident and multi-dimensional approach by opening Investment in Afghanistan's nascent democracy and economy; strengthening Kabul's defence capability and promoting regional connectivity and integration.

Afghanistan will help India and ICAI to facilitate indirect employment generation for Indian CAs through recognition and acceptability amongst Afghanistan employers. It is also believed that the relationship developed between the two countries over the past few years is strategic in nature and is of mutual benefit.

Background: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, 'The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. CPA Afghanistan is an independent regulator of accountancy profession in Afghanistan, which operates under the supervision of Ministry of Finance, Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

27-Dec-2017: Kabul-Mumbai cargo service on

India and Afghanistan launched an air freight corridor service connecting Kabul with Mumbai. Afghan Vice-President Sarwar Danish flagged off the first flight of the dedicated service from Kabul, six months after a similar corridor connected the city with Delhi.

India also promised to hold exhibition for Afghan traders in Mumbai city and they want to create business chambers. Afghanistan hopes that connectivity with India’s commercial capital would increase fruit exports from Afghanistan. India is not imposing taxes on Afghan traders. We are also trying to send fruits to Amritsar.

Afghan officials said since the launch of the corridor to New Delhi, fruits and medicines worth $20 million had been imported by India. The air corridor marks an important bilateral development as it comes as Afghanistan joined Pakistan and China in a trilateral talk in Beijing which marked Kabul’s opening up to Islamabad.

20-Mar-2017: New Delhi, Kabul talks soon to boost trade

India will soon hold talks with Afghanistan on ways to boost bilateral trade and investment. The first such meeting since January 2014 and the first during the tenure of the NDA Government is also aimed at mounting pressure on Islamabad to facilitate trouble-free transit of goods from India to Afghanistan through Pakistan (Wagah-Attari route).

This is to help in the development of Afghanistan which is a land-locked and Least Developed Country (LDC) as well as to boost trade and investment in South Asia through better regional connectivity, the sources said. They said it will also help India to improve trade ties with Central Asian nations.

In this regard, the ‘India-Afghanistan Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce and Investment’ meeting will discuss ways to make use of the United Nations TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers or International Road Transport) Convention to boost trade between India and Afghanistan through Pakistan.

The TIR Convention facilitates trade and international road transport by permitting customs-sealed vehicles and containers to transit nations without them being generally inspected at border crossings. The Union Cabinet granted its nod for India’s accession to the TIR Convention. Pakistan and Afghanistan are also ‘contracting parties’ to the TIR Convention.

Thanks to the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), Afghanistan can use Pakistan’s territory for transit trade while Pakistan’s goods can move through Afghanistan to nations bordering Afghanistan. However, Islamabad has not agreed to allow using APTTA for goods to be transported from India to Afghanistan through Pakistan’s territory (via the Wagah-Attari route).

India is keen to join APTTA and Afghanistan has backed India’s readiness to be an APTTA member but Pakistan has so far rejected such a proposal. The sources said while India is likely to soon make renewed efforts to be an APTTA member, it will also look at how the UN TIR Convention can help send goods to Afghanistan through Pakistan.

While there have been informal proposals recommending India and Afghanistan joining the over $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), India has strategic concerns regarding the CPEC that would cover areas including Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. CPEC is the so-called ‘flagship’ project of China’s One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR) initiative. The OBOR is aimed at developing infrastructure in more than 60 countries.

In the absence of transit route through Pakistan, India depends on other countries, including Iran, to send goods to Afghanistan even though it increases time and costs for Indian exporters. India is also planning to strengthen air cargo links with Afghanistan as well as help expedite the development of Chabahar Port in Iran to bypass the Pakistan route to increase trade relations with Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries. The India–Afghanistan trade and investment meeting will also consider more support from India to Afghanistan through Line of Credit, especially the Buyer’s Credit for project exports by Indian companies to Afghanistan.

India-Afghanistan goods trade had jumped nearly 22% to $834.5 million in 2015-16 with India’s exports to Afghanistan being $526.6 million and its imports from Afghanistan worth $307.9 million. However, it is still far below potential. During April-December 2016-17, the bilateral trade was to the tune of $590.1 million with India’s exports to Afghanistan being $377.2 million and imports from Afghanistan worth $212.9 million. India’s main export items to Afghanistan are textiles, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, iron & steel and electrical machinery, while its imports from Afghanistan are fruits and nuts, gums and resins, coffee, tea and spices.