New Delhi [India], October 10 (HBTV): During a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday, India expressed appreciation for Afghanistan’s invitation to Indian companies to explore mining opportunities in the country, noting that the matter could be discussed further.
In his remarks during the meeting, Jaishankar addressed various aspects of Indo-Afghan relations, including development partnerships and sports.
‘As a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in your development and progress,’ the External Affairs Minister said.
He reaffirmed India’s longstanding partnership with Afghanistan, which has included several development projects, and stated that discussions could be held on the maintenance and repair of completed projects as well as the completion of others already committed to.
‘Beyond that, other development priorities of Afghanistan can be discussed by our teams,’ Jaishankar said.
In a significant announcement, he stated that India would contribute to reconstructing residences in areas affected by last month’s earthquakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.
Highlighting India’s ongoing humanitarian support, Jaishankar mentioned that India has been a major provider of food assistance to Afghanistan and that an additional consignment would be delivered in Kabul on Friday.
Speaking about the plight of forcibly repatriated Afghan refugees, Jaishankar expressed deep concern and announced that India would help construct homes for them while continuing to provide material aid to support their rehabilitation. He also affirmed India’s readiness to collaborate on the sustainable management of Afghanistan’s water resources.
On the trade and commerce front, Jaishankar noted the commencement of additional flights between Kabul and New Delhi.
‘Our educational and capacity-building programmes have long nurtured the Afghan youth. We will expand avenues for Afghan students to pursue studies at Indian universities,’ Jaishankar said. He also noted the introduction of a new visa module for Afghan citizens in April 2025, which has allowed India to issue a greater number of visas, including for medical, business, and student categories.
Calling Afghan cricket talent ‘truly impressive’, Jaishankar said that India was pleased to deepen its support for Afghan cricket.
He further appreciated Afghanistan’s solidarity following the Pahalgam terror attack and its sensitivity towards India’s security concerns.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a week-long visit from October 9 to 16, marking the first high-level delegation from Kabul to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry, was cited by Tolo News as saying that the visit would focus on ‘expanding relations between Kabul and New Delhi’.
The United Nations Security Council has approved a temporary exemption from international travel restrictions for Muttaqi, allowing him to stay in India for a week beginning October 9.
(ANI)