Inaugurates new Afghanistan Parliament built with $90 m assistance by India

Kabul, December 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for an end to cross-border terrorism as he inaugurated country’s new parliament building here.Without naming Pakistan, Modi said in an address to Parliament here: “Afghanistan will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border; when nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism are shut and their patrons are no longer in business.“Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make,” he said.Modi reached Kabul early on Friday on his way back from a two-day visit to Russia. He, along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, inaugurated the new Parliament building that has been constructed with Indian assistance of $90 million. One block of the building has been named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.“Bahut dhanyavaad India 4 giving us a new house of democracy. Its a testimony to our unyielding friendship,” Ghani stated in a tweet. In his address, Modi said there were “some who did not want us to be here”. “There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. Some even tried to discourage us.”  He said “those waging war from outside must seek a path to this building and this hall”.The PM said Afghanistan’s success would require the cooperation and support of each of its neighbours.Modi expressed hope that Pakistan would “”ecome a bridge between South Asia and Afghanistan and beyond”. A joint statement issued after a meeting between Modi and Ghani said Afghanistan needed to eliminate terrorism perpetrated from “sanctuaries and safe havens” for peace while identifying terrorism, narcotics and extremism as “serious challenges”. The Mi-25 helicopters India is giving to Afghanistan were also mentioned in the statement, and both sides agreed to expand training opportunities for Afghan security and defence forces. Modi thanked Afghan authorities for ensuring the safety of the Indian embassy in Kabul, the four consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, and Indian nationals in Afghanistan, including those working on various development projects.Earlier, after Modi reached Kabul, Ghani tweeted: “India and Afghanistan enjoy a friendship that dates back to antiquity. We have stood by each other in the best and worst of times.” The two leaders had delegation-level discussions over breakfast.After his address to Parliament, Modi met Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.He also interacted with Indian aid workers in Afghanistan, ITBP personnel and embassy officials. — IANS

Reaching out

Modi pats ITBP men guarding embassyModi spent some time with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel deployed to secure the Indian High Commission in Kabul. He lauded their courage and dedication by complimenting them with a “keep it up” remark. The armed contingent is stationed to guard the facility and diplomatic staff in Kabul since 2002. The ITBP also guards India’s four consulates in Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar and Herat.500 scholarships for martyrs’ childrenThe PM announced 500 scholarships for children of the martyrs of Afghan security forces. The Prime Minister, in his address in Afghan Parliament said: “You know India is here to lay the foundations of future, not light the flame of conflict; to rebuild lives and not to destroy a nation. Today, I announce 500 scholarships for children of the martyrs of Afghan security forces while scheme of 1000 scholarships will continue.”

US, UN welcome Modi-Sharif meet

• The US on Friday said improved ties between the two countries will benefit the entire region. “Better relations between neighbours will benefit the people of the entire region,” said a US State Department spokesman
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hoped the dialogue would be strengthened further

…Invokes ‘Sher Khan’ and ‘Kabuliwalla’

Kabul, December 25

The memorable portrayal of a Pathan — Sher Khan — by actor Pran in Bollywood movie “Zanjeer” found its way into diplomacy as PM Narendra Modi mentioned it to underscore how Indians view Afghans as true and magnanimous friends.And not just Sher Khan, the character “Kabuliwalla” in story by that name penned by Rabindranath Tagore too figured in Modi’s speech to Afghan Parliamentarians, as did the successes of Afghan cricket team to highlight the strong cultural and people-to-people bond between the two peoples. In his address, Modi lauded the Afghan people for their valour, courage and magnanimous friendship and then went to recite lyrics of a song in “Zanjeer” filmed on “Hindi cinema’s most favourite Pathan character — Sher Khan”.“Yaari hai imaan mera, yaar meri zindagi”, a smiling Modi said and then translated it for Afghan parliamentarians, that “friendship is my faith and friend is my life”. This, he said, is how India views Afghans in its centuries long relationship, the Prime Minister said. — PTI