Over the last two decades, India has contributed to promoting socio-economic development and capacity building of youth and women in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Addressing the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan virtually, Modi emphasized the centuries old people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The prime minister noted that India had implemented over 500 development projects in Afghanistan. “The prime minister noted that the Afghan people have a great feeling of friendship for India. He conveyed that every Indian feels the pain of Afghan people facing hunger and malnutrition,” the PMO said in a statement. It said the prime minister also emphasized the need for the international community to ensure that Afghanistan has immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.
Modi underlined the need to ensure that Afghan territory does not become a source of radicalization and terrorism, regionally or globally. He emphasized on the need to enhance our joint fight against the nexus of radicalization, terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and arms in the region.
“In order to preserve the socio-economic gains of the last 20 years and to restrict the spread of radical ideology, the prime minister called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan, which includes women and minorities,” the PMO said.
It said Modi conveyed support for the important role of the United Nations in Afghanistan and called for renewed support of the G20 for the message contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2593 on Afghanistan. He called on the international community to forge a unified international response without which it would be difficult to bring about the desired change in Afghanistan’s situation.
