PM Modi holds talks with Afghan President, Shahtoot dam agreement signed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted summit-level talks with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani via video conferencing on February 9, 2021. 

During the meeting, PM Modi expressed concerns over the rising violence in Afghanistan and termed targeting of the civilians, journalists and workers by the terrorists a "cowardice act" and asserted that both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of terrorism.

PM Modi while stressing on the friendship between the two countries, said that India has always supported Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-supported initiatives. He further stressed that unified Afghanistan can fight any calamities and success of the nation is the all-around success of India.

We are happy that shahtoot dam will provide drinking water facility to Kabul and also be used for irrigation purpose: PM Modi on signing of MoU on construction of the dam pic.twitter.com/RcRMNyYNN7

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani thanked India and PM Modi for India's gift of water through the signing of an Shahtoot dam agreement and delivery of 5,00,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Afghan President stated that India's attention to Afghanistan and its offer of the gift of life to Kabul and the people of Afghanistan symbolise the value of decency, democracy, humanity, mutual interest, mutual respect, mutual trust and our interdependent world.

Further, the Afghan President said that India's decision to provide them with 5,00,000 doses of the vaccine at this critical time when Indians themselves are looking for every single vaccine could not be a greater gift. He stated that the vaccines will be administered to their frontline health workers and heroic security forces and vulnerable people. 

With Shahtoot reservoir, we will be able to implement our vision of restoring natural beauty that captivated the imagination of Babur. I thank India and PM Modi for offering this gift of water, in addition to the gift of vaccines: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani pic.twitter.com/OTKLVGARJy

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

This came after an  Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] was signed by the two sides for the construction of the Lalandar (Shatoot) Dam in Afghanistan . 

India, Afghanistan sign MoU to construct Shatoot Dam

•The MoU was signed by Union External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Mr. Hanif Atmar, in the presence of PM Modi and the Afghan President. 

•The Shahtoot dam is proposed to be constructed on the Kabul river basin,  which is one of the five river basins of Afghanistan. 

•Shahtoot Dam will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul and will also be used to provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.

•The project is a part of the New Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan. 

•The Shahtoot dam is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and the President in June 2016.

•The signing of the Shahtoot Dam agreement is a reflection of India’s strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan.

PM Modi during the talks highlighted the civilisational relationship between India and Afghanistan and gave an assurance of India's continued support for a peaceful, united, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan.

The Afghan President said, "With Shahtoot reservoir, we will be able to implement our vision of restoring natural beauty that captivated the imagination of Babur. I thank India and Prime Minister Modi for offering this gift of water, in addition to the gift of vaccines."

A sovereign & united Afghanistan is essential to South Asia's prosperity, connectivity & stability. Peace is the central desire of Afghan people but that peace must be peace that ends violence&not becomes a preface in chapter to another tragedy: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani pic.twitter.com/vb0JVEu1Ga

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

He continued by saying that is the moment for regional consensus and international consensus and for a guarantee of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan.  He further urged the world and all stakeholders to respect the rules of sovereignty and international relations and stop giving sanctuaries and stop interfering in the affairs of their neighbours.

Background

Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar had announced at the Geneva Donors Conference in November 2020 that India will be constructing the Shahtoot Dam on the Kabul river in Afghanistan.

Along with this dam, India has pledged to rebuild Afghanistan committing to USD 80 million worth of projects. Around 150 projects have been announced by India in the conflict-ridden country. 

Overall, India has completed a large number of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, including the construction of the Salma Dam, the Afghan parliament building, which was inaugurated in 2015 and a 218-km road from Delaram to Zaranj along the Iranian border to provide alternative connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran.