India to roll out 92 projects across Af

Will extend support to build peaceful country: PM

India on Monday announced 92 new small development projects across Afghanistan, undeterred by repeated terror attacks on its diplomatic missions in the war-ravaged country.

New Delhi made public its decision to continue implementing small development projects across Afghanistan on a day it played host to Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Council of the Ministers of the Afghan government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Chief Executive of the Afghanistan government that India would continue to “extend all possible support to the efforts” of Afghans to build “a peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and democratic country”.

Abdullah, who had a meeting with the prime minister here on Monday, appreciated “the support being extended by India for infrastructure development and capacity building in Afghanistan”.

He also briefed Modi about the peace process with Taliban. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Afghan Chief Executive Officer when she conveyed to him the India’s approval of third phase of 92 small development projects in Afghanistan, with an estimated cost of $16 million. The Indian government had in November 2012 approved the third phase of the small development projects in Afghanistan, with a total outlay of $ 100 million.

India’s small development projects in Afghanistan was a special programme to foster community-based, in vulnerable border areas, in the fields of agriculture, rural development, education, health and vocational training that can have direct and visible impact on community life, and with focus on local ownership and management. India’s Small Development Projects are very popular in Afghanistan and the two phases have been implemented so far – the first in July 2006 comprising projects worth $11,216,179 and the second in June 2008 comprising projects worth $8,579,537.

Abdullah’s was the first high-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi after January 3-4 terror attack on the Consulate General of India at Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.