KABUL (SW): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kabul early Friday for the much anticipated visit while his office has labelled Modi’s engagements in Afghanistan as ‘meeting with friends'.
During his visit today, the Prime Minister unveiled two of India’s most important initiatives in Afghanistan during the short visit: the inauguration of the parliament building, and handing over ceremony for four Mi-25 attack helicopters.
The parliament building has been marked as “a symbol of India’s support to Afghanistan’s democracy and civil reconstruction support”. The helicopters are an equally symbolic gesture, as they denote a shift in India’s position on supplying ‘offensive’ equipment, the Hindustan Times noted.
Three of the helicopters have already reached Kabul, while the last is expected to be dispatched in the next few days.
Modi was received at red carpet by the Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at the “Arg” the presidential palace. Later, PM Modi will address a joint session of the two Afghan Houses in the new Parliament building along with President Ghani.
The building will house the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) with a seating capacity of 294, a 190-seat Meshrano Jirga (Upper House), besides other facilities like a conference hall and a press room.
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