Afghanistan can be regional trade hub: Mukherjee

KABUL has the potential to emerge as a hub of regional trade, transport and energy corridors and a land of opportunity that contribute to economic growth, the Indian president said on Wednesday.

At a meeting with Afghanistan’s Second Vice-President Karim Khalili, Pranab Mukherjee said Indian companies were interested in bidding for exploring copper, gold, oil and gas deposits in the war-torn country.

According to the Asian News International (ANI), the president reiterated India’s commitment to assisting Afghanistan at the political and strategic levels well beyond 2014 when foreign combat troops are to leave.

For his part, Khalili said Kabul-Delhi relations were of strategic importance and the friendship between the two countries would remain strong. He praised Delhi for assistance to Kabul and urged Indian companies to invest in Afghanistan, especially in the mining sector.

Mukherjee was quoted as saying: “India considers a sovereign, independent, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan to be in its strategic interest. India is committed to the strategic partnership agreement and to assisting Afghanistan in the critical period of transition, development and nation building.”

PAN Monitor/mud

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