Afghanistan hails India for generous support

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan today thanked India for firmly standing behind it in the last two decades when the country was going through a difficult phase and hoped that the support will continue for years to come.

Chief Executive of Afghan government Abdullah Abdullah also complimented India for providing "generous" financial support in the last few years in helping Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts.

"It is incumbent upon me to thank India for its generous support in the past 13/14 years. I am sure that you look towards Afghanistan as a permanent friend. The commitment to support Afghanistan is deep down here across the board," he said.

He said India has been one of the leading donors of Afghanistan as it had invested over $2 billion in sectors like education, health and infrastructure development among others.

According to Abdullah, with support of India and the international community, Afghanistan will be able usher in a new era of development and prosperity.

"In years to come you will see a different Afghanistan," he said.
In a veiled criticism of former President Hamid Karzai, he said Afghanistan could not utilise the opportunity to combat terrorism in the best possible way in the last 14 years.

He said India and a very few countries had been supporting Afghanistan fighting terrorism.

Abdullah had contested the 2014 presidential election but lost to Ashraf Ghani. Afterwards, the two set up a unity government in which Abdullah became Chief Executive Officer while Ghani was made the President.