Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Afghanistan on Saturday where he will hold talks with President Ashraf Ghani and inaugurate the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, in Herat province.
Announcing the visit, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup said the meeting between Modi and Ghani will also provide an opportunity to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and how the two countries can cooperate further for promoting peace and stability in that country.
Afghanistan is part of Modi’s five-nation trip beginning June 4 which will also cover Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.
Asserting that the completion of the dam project represents culmination of years of hard work by about 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers and other professionals in very difficult conditions, Swarup said it also highlights India’s continued commitment to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. He said the dam will help irrigate 44,000 hectares of land.
In an oblique reference to Pakistan, the MEA spokesperson said unlike those who contributed to terrorism and instability in Afghanistan, India always stood by Kabul. last year, Modi and Ghani had dedicated to the Afghan nation the new Parliament Building constructed under India-Afghanistan development cooperation.