India has been doing immense development work in Afghanistan for which the people of the war-ravaged country "thank us, no matter what others do or don't"
India has reacted to US President Donald Trump's jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocking India's development aid to Afghanistan. Top sources said, "India firmly believes in the critical role developmental assistance play in transforming human lives. India plays a significant role in Afghanistan as a development partner. This is built on the specific needs and requirements worked out with the government there."
They further said, "India seeks to build capacities and capabilities of Afghan nationals and its institutions for governance and delivery of public service, develop socio-economic infrastructure, secure lives and promote livelihood."
Sources ruled out India sending troops to the country saying we "do not send armed forces abroad except under the specific mandate of UN Peacekeeping Operations."
President Trump, in his first Cabinet meeting of the year, had said even though he gets "along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi," PM Modi "is constantly telling me, he built a library in Afghanistan, but (Trump) don't know who's using it in Afghanistan".
Though the US has been pressing India to send troops to Afghanistan, a demand repeatedly rejected by India, this is the first time the US administration has publicly mocked India's developmental works in the strife-torn country.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav too responded to Trump jibe, saying India has been doing immense development work in Afghanistan for which the people of the war-ravaged country "thank us, no matter what others do or don't".
The Congress too termed as "completely unacceptable" US President Donald Trump's 'library' jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked the government to remind America of India's assistance to Afghanistan. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel termed as "completely unacceptable" US President's remarks and asked the government to remind America of India's assistance to Afghanistan.
POTUS, KNOW WHAT INDIA IS DOING
Activities in Afghanistan premised on 5 pillars — Infrastructure, Capacity Building, Humanitarian Assistance, Economic Development & Connectivity
INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVPMENT
218 km – Road from Zaranj to Delaram
220kV – DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul
220/110/20 kV – Sub-station at Chimtala to bring power to smaller towns
Friendship Dam – (Salma Dam) opened in 2016. It has a capacity of 42 MW and supplies water for irrigating 75,000 hectares of land
New Afghan Parliament built with India support
CAPACITY BUILDING
3,500 – Afghans undergoing various training programmes in India
500 – Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) slots offered to Afghan nationals annually
CONNECTIVITY
Direct Air Freight Corridor between India and Afghanistan established in 2017 has increased the market for Afghan goods in India.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
1.1mn – Metric Ton of wheat supplied to Afghanistan
400 bed – Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health IGICH is the main hospital in Afghanistan
May be Trump should know that India has been building not only libraries, but roads, dams, schools and even parliament building. We are building lives, for which the Afghan people are thanking us
Ram Madhav, BJP gen secy
Tenor and tone of the US president describing the Prime Minister of India is not in good taste and is completely unacceptable. Hope our government responds firmly and reminds US of our work there
Ahmed Patel, Congress
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 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump")
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