Delhi, Kabul ink 3 accords

Afghan President Hamed Karzai (R) speaks during a press conference while Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looks on at the Presidential Palace in Kabul yesterday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Afghanistan for the first visit by an Indian leader in 29 years, carrying fresh aid offers and seeking to blunt rival Pakistan's influence. PHOTO: AFP

An agreement in the field of healthcare and medicinal sciences and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on small development projects and cooperation in agricultural research and education were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai after their talks in Kabul.

According to the agreement in the field of healthcare and medicinal sciences, India would help the war-ravaged country in programmes relating to family welfare, public health and hospitals.

The MoU on small development projects covered areas like education, healthcare and community development.

The Indian embassy and consulates in consultation with the Afghan government will identify the projects to be covered under the MoU.

Another MoU on agricultural research and education envisages cooperation in the field of horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences. It will also involve exchange of scientists.

India yesterday offered all possible assistance to Afghanistan in effectively dealing with terrorism and rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

"We have discussed terrorist threat worldwide as also in Afghanistan and in India. There is convergence of views that terrorism poses a threat anywhere and everywhere and we have to deal together," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai after their one-to-one and delegation-level talks in Kabul.

Singh, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Kabul in 29 years, the last being Indira Gandhi in 1976, said "it is for the Government and people of Afghanistan to indicate what type of assistance they want. We are ready to give it."

On the regrouping of Taliban in Afghanistan, Karzai asserted that terrorist activities would not deter people from participating in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

"Terrorism had come to Afghanistan three-and-a-half years ago. With the help of the international community and the people of Afghanistan, it was defeated and thrown out...But we see continuation of such activities and we feel very sad about it," Singh said.

Earlier Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday peace between India and Pakistan is vital for the region as he called for the three countries to work together to defeat terrorism.

Karzai discussed regional security and terrorism with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Afghanistan earlier on Sunday, the first visit to Afghanistan by an Indian prime minister in nearly 30 years.

"Afghanistan is very happy to see a dialogue for better relations between India and Pakistan. Afghanistan is directly effected by friendship between the two countries," Karzai told a joint news conference with Singh.