India, Afghanistan sign MoU to build Shahtoot Dam in Kabul

India and Afghanistan on Tuesday signed an agreement to build the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul to provide drinking water facility in the Afghan capital.

India and Afghstan on Tuesday signed an agreement to build the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul to provide drinking water facility in the Afghan capital.

In a virtual summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar signed the MoU in the presence of Afghstan President Ashraf Gh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While signing the agreement, President Gh thanked India and PM Modi for the gift of water through the signing of an agreement on Shahtoot dam.

Speaking at the virtual summit, Gh 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."

"This is the moment for regional consensus and international consensus. For a guarantee of a stable and prosperous Afghstan. We must ask the world and all stakeholders to respect the rules of sovereignty and international relations. Stop giving sanctuaries and stop interfering in the affairs of their neighbours," he said.

The Afghan President lauded India for giving attention to Afghstan and giving a "gift of life to Kabul and the people of Afghstan symbolise the value of decency, democracy, humty, mutual interest, mutual respect, mutual trust and our interdependent world".

The Shahtoot dam is to be constructed on the Kabul river basin, one of the five river basins of Afghstan. Along with the Shahtoot dam, India has pledged to rebuild Afghstan committing to USD 80 million worth of projects. Around 150 projects have been announced by India in the conflict-ridden country.

Shahtoot dam will provide clean drinking water to two million citizens of Kabul and will also be used for irrigation.

During the summit, Ashraf Gh also thanked Prime Minister Modi for the 5,00,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given by India.

"Your decision to provide us 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... These will be administered to our frontline health workers and our heroic security forces and vulnerable people. We cherish this act of exceptional generosity," he said.

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

"A sovereign and united Afghstan is essential to South Asia's prosperity, connectivity, and stability. Peace is the central desire of Afghan people," said Gh.

( With inputs from ANI )