Statement on Areas of Cooperation between India and Afghanistan
on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in post conflict Afghanistan

New Delhi
February 27, 2002

H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration paid a state visit to India on 26-27 February 2002. During his visit H.E. Mr. Hamid Karzai called on the President of India, the Vice-President of India, and held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During H.E. Karzai’s stay, EAM Shri Jaswant Singh called on him. Chairman Karzai also held an interaction with the Indian Business and Industry.

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced a grant of US$ 10 million for immediate utilization by the Afghan government.

During the course of bilateral meetings, the two sides discussed various facets of diverse India-Afghan relations. In the specific context of bilateral cooperation aimed at reconstruction and rehabilitation in post conflict Afghanistan, the two sides assessed the status of existing cooperation, including in the field of education, health, and training facilities, and agreed to:

  1. Continue with the existing cooperation, and

  2. Enhance Cooperation in the following new areas:

Education

  • Rebuilding of Educational infrastructure, including six schools, polytechnics and supply of teaching aids, to Afghanistan.

  • Rehabilitation of some of the existing educational institutions in Afghanistan.

Health

  • Rebuilding of Health Infrastructure, including construction of six medical care centers, and mobile medical facilities in Afghanistan.

  • Rehabilitation of some of the existing medical facilities in Afghanistan.

Information Technology

  • Setting up of computer training and maintenance facilities in Kabul

  • Computer hardware and software support to various Afghan Government Ministries

Public Transport

  • Provide, 50 buses and other vehicles and material support as identified by the Afghan Interim Administration for rebuilding appropriate public transport facilities in Kabul and other areas.

Industry

  • Rehabilitation of existing Industrial Park in Kabul and construction of new Industrial Park as per Afghan priorities.

Energy

  • A composite Indian team to go to Afghanistan to undertake feasibility studies of various projects related to water and power sectors.

  • To examine various avenues of specific cooperation in the field of non-renewable energy resources.

  • To examine projects for cooperation specifically with regard to development of rural areas in Afghanistan

Training

  • To impart training to Government officials from various Afghan Ministries at various Institutions in India related to capacity building and human resource development in different sectors.