Afghanistan to Use India’s 1 Billion Aid for Infrastructure Sectors

Afghanistan will use India’s 1 billion economic aid for infrastructure sector that can be a production  country, President’s spokesman said.

Haroon Chakhansori, President’s spokesman said, India’s aid to Afghanistan will be used in regular programs that a continued employment field provides for the people.

“A large part of this aid will be used for infrastructure sectors which includes; Health, agriculture, education, capacity building and construction of small and medium power dams,” said Haroon Chakhansori, President’s spokesman.

India offered $1 billion in economic aid to Afghanistan, the latest sign of tightening ties between the two countries.

Indian Prime Minister, Modi pledged the aid to Afghanistan after a meeting with Ghani, vowing to pledge India’s “abiding support for a unified, sovereign, democratic, peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Afghan finance ministry has also said that the ministry prepared a proper scheme for spending this aid.

“The aid will be used in a regular program that can have a direct effect on people’s economy,” said Ajmal Hamid Abdul Rahim Zai, Spokesman of finance ministry.

In the meantime, a number of National Assembly members stressed that using the foreign aids should have a transparent process.

“India is one of the honest friends of Afghanistan. The government should perfectly use this opportunity and use the aid in important sectors,” said Reyhana Azad, member of parliament.

India’s renewed support for Afghanistan will be especially crucial in the current context given the ongoing intensification of the Taliban’s offensive across the country.

Campaigns in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces have particularly intensified in recent weeks, leading to growing concerns in Afghanistan that the government could continue to cede territory to the extremist group that ruled the country before the U.S. invasion some fifteen years ago.

Both Modi and Ghani, in a statement issued after their meeting, additionally expressed concern ” at continued use of terrorism and violence in the region for achieving political objectives,” an implicit reference to Pakistan’s military and intelligence services.

According to Voice of America, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar clarified that Ghani and Modi spent considerable time discussing approaches to countering terrorism in the region.