Intra-Afghan talks expected to begin next week: Abdullah
According to a survey, the Institute for War and Peace Studies found that more than 86 per cent of the country's population are satisfied with the current peace process.
India and Afghanistan will hold a joint four-day trade and investment show in New Delhi beginning Wednesday as India seeks to step up its partnership with the war-ravaged nation a month after US President Donald Trump unveiled his new Afghan strategy.
The trade show, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, will be inaugurated by Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and top officials of the US Embassy in India
According to Afghan Ambassador to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Abdullah would arrive in the Capital on Wednesday morning. He is expected to be accompanied by a high-level business delegation from Afghanistan.
During his visit, Abdullah would also hold meetings with Indian officials on a number of issues, including the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the economic sector. The establishment of a joint chamber of commerce and industries is also on the anvil.
“At the meeting, discussions will be held on the implementation of Indian projects in various provinces across Afghanistan, it is better that the challenges and their solutions are also identified so that discussions are held on them at an appropriate time,” Abdullah was quoted as saying ahead of his visit.
Meanwhile, the US announced that the trade and investment event was indicative of the commitment of both India and the US to Afghanistan’s future.
“India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in New Delhi demonstrates the strong US-India commitment to Afghanistan’s future. At the event, government and private sector entities will join to announce and create opportunities for cross border business, a win-win for all our countries,” said US ambassador to Afghanistan Hugo Llorens. Some US investors are also expected to participate in the event.
The aim of the trade show is to popularise Afghan products such as spices, carpets and gems and connecting Indian investors with Afghan companies and government entities in the education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy and agricultural sectors.
This comes close on the heels of India’s decision to launch new development partnership involving 116 new high impact development projects that would be jointly implemented in the suburban and rural communities in 31 provinces of the land-locked country.
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