Replied by Anurag Sharma, Research Associate, VIF
Since 2001, India has played an active role towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. Under the bilateral relationship between India and Afghanistan, around 400 social-infrastructure Indian projects are invested. These projects, spread across 34 provinces of Afghanistan, focus on development in various areas, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, flood control, agriculture, and sports.
“Under New Development Partnership, several important projects focused on developmental needs and priorities of Afghanistan have been identified for implementation including Shahtoot Dam and drinking water project for Kabul city, low-cost housing for returning Afghan refugees in Nangarhar province, among many others”, said then-Indian Ambassador to the US—Harsh Vardhan Shringla at an event in 2019.
References/further reading:
- Government of India-Ministry of External Affairs. “India-Afghanistan: A Historic and Time-Tested Partnership”, 2019, Available from: https://mea.gov.in/images/pdf/India-Afghanistan-Map-Book-03012019.pdf
- Government of India-Ministry of External Affairs. “India and Neighbours: Afghanistan”, Available from: https://mea.gov.in/afghanistan-in.htm
- PTI. “India finishes 400 social infra projects in Afghanistan, US praises effort”, Hindustan Times, 22 November 2019, Available from: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-finishes-400-social-infrastructure-projects-in-afghanistan-us-praises-effort/story-2HbIlnrxXPmHbmIEkMyPRN.html