Afghan Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mawlawi Ataullah Omari arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for an official visit to India.
Welcoming the minister, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India looked forward to engaging discussions on issues of mutual interest.
In a post on X, Jaiswal said, “A very warm welcome to the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, as he arrives in New Delhi. Looking forward to engaging discussions on issues of mutual interest.”
According to the Afghan Embassy in India, Omari, accompanied by a delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will hold meetings with his Indian counterparts and members of the Indian business community to discuss cooperation in agriculture, irrigation, investment, and other areas of mutual interest.
The visit comes amid continued humanitarian engagement between the two countries.
On June 17, India delivered five tonnes of essential medicines to Kabul as part of its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
In a post on X, Jaiswal said, “India delivers another 5 tonnes of essential medicines to Kabul, reaffirming its enduring commitment to humanitarian assistance and the well-being of the Afghan people.”
Earlier, on June 11, the MEA announced the gifting of medical equipment to Afghan health authorities to strengthen the country’s healthcare system. The assistance included equipment for diagnosis, treatment, neonatal and pediatric care, as well as ventilators, patient monitors, cardiograph machines, plastic surgery sets, maxillofacial electrocautery devices, and specialised medical kits.
Separately, reaffirming India’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, the MEA said New Delhi remains focused on promoting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan through sustained humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.
Referring to remarks made by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Jaiswal said India’s position remains unchanged and continues to be centred on supporting the Afghan people.
“At the meeting in New York, our Permanent Representative reiterated that India and Afghanistan are contiguous neighbours and civilisational states. Our ties have spanned centuries,” Jaiswal said.
He added that India continues to support Afghanistan through food security initiatives, healthcare and pharmaceutical assistance, while also providing scholarships and capacity-building opportunities.
-ANI
