Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Wednesday met Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, with discussions focusing on bilateral relations and ongoing cooperation for the welfare and development of the Afghan people.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, Margherita wrote: “Good to meet H.E. Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan, in New Delhi today. The discussions focused on India-Afghanistan bilateral relations, including ongoing cooperation for the welfare and development of the Afghan people.”
Omari arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on an official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold discussions with senior Indian officials on issues of mutual interest.
Welcoming the visiting minister, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: “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.”
Last week, following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory, India reiterated its support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and its commitment to humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.
“We had strongly condemned the airstrikes that happened from Pakistan into Afghanistan, in which several civilian lives, including women and children were lost. We had offered our condolences on the passing away of precious lives and we had also at the same time reiterated our strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan,” Jaiswal had said during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
“As far as in terms of support with Afghanistan, we have an ongoing humanitarian assistance cooperation. We have been sending them medicines. We have been sending them other support and we have also been offering development projects which can bring benefit to the lives of people there and that continues,” he added.
India has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including the supply of essential medicines and vaccines.
On June 17, India delivered five tonnes of essential medicines to Kabul. Earlier, on May 22, it supplied 20 tonnes of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) vaccines to support immunisation efforts among Afghan children.
(IANS)
