India has signed an agreement with Afghanistan for the construction of the Shahtoot Dam, which will provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city, the Indian government said on Tuesday. Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar, who joined the two-day event, 2020 Afghanistan Conference, organized in Geneva, via video link, said India will undertake more than 100 projects worth $80 million in Afghanistan. The conference was co-hosted by the UN, the Afghanistan government, and the government of Finland.The projects underline India’s backing of the Afghan government headed by President Ashraf Ghani and the people of the war-torn country, as well as its intention to stay involved in the development of the country despite the possibility of the Taliban returning to Kabul though a power sharing arrangement. India is wary of the Taliban given its proximity to Pakistan and its military spy agency the Inter-Services-Intelligence. Ghanis government is engaged in peace talks with the Taliban after the US entered a deal with the rebel group in February to allow the exit of US-led foreign troops after almost two decades.
Courtesyg: Google (photo)
