India on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, stating that New Delhi remains focused on promoting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan through sustained humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position on Afghanistan remains unchanged and is guided by its long-standing friendship and civilisational ties with the country.

His remarks came a day after India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, addressed the United Nations Security Council during a briefing on Afghanistan and highlighted New Delhi’s continued support for the war-torn nation.

India Reiterates Support For Afghan People

Speaking on India’s position, Jaiswal said Afghanistan and India are contiguous neighbours whose ties span centuries.

“We stand in favour of peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region so as to foster development and stability,” he said.

The MEA spokesperson highlighted India’s ongoing development cooperation in areas such as food security, healthcare and pharmaceutical assistance. He said New Delhi has consistently supported the Afghan people and would continue to do so.

Jaiswal also underlined that India’s assistance programmes benefit all sections of Afghan society, including women and children.

“In many of our development cooperation programmes, it cuts across gender; it benefits people across the board, including women and children. We have also provided scholarships and capacity-building programmes to people of Afghanistan and these will continue,” he said.

He added that India remains committed to fostering peace and stability in Afghanistan as a prerequisite for long-term development and prosperity.

India Highlights Development Projects At UN

During the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) briefing at the Security Council on Monday, Parvathaneni Harish described India and Afghanistan as “contiguous neighbours” and “civilisational states” whose historical ties continue to shape their modern relationship.

He said the Government of India would continue to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and pointed to India’s participation in the Doha working group meetings and its extensive development partnership with Kabul.

According to Harish, India has implemented more than 500 development projects across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, focusing on healthcare, public infrastructure and capacity building.

He also highlighted several ongoing initiatives, including the establishment of an oncology centre, a trauma centre, advanced medical facilities in hospitals, a 30-bed hospital in Kabul and a thalassaemia centre in Herat.

Harish thanked partner organisations, including UNICEF and the Afghan Red Crescent Society, for their cooperation in delivering assistance.

Wheat, Medicines And Scholarships

Since August 2021, India has supplied more than 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 420 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, and 40,000 litres of pesticide to Afghanistan, Harish told the Security Council.

He also referred to India’s efforts to support Afghan children through vaccination programmes and specialised medical treatment for children suffering from congenital heart diseases.

Education and capacity building remain another key pillar of India’s engagement with Afghanistan. Harish said nearly 3,000 Afghan students, including around 1,000 women, have benefited from scholarships offered by India since 2023.

He announced that an additional 1,000 scholarships would soon be made available.

Emphasising India’s enduring partnership with Afghanistan, Harish said the country’s development initiatives and humanitarian support reflect New Delhi’s commitment to the Afghan people and its desire to contribute to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

The latest remarks from both the MEA and India’s envoy to the UN underscore New Delhi’s intention to maintain its long-standing engagement with Afghanistan despite the country’s continuing political and humanitarian challenges.

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