Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total amount of money invested by India in Afghanistan during the past three years, year-wise and project-wise;
(b) the funds committed to be spent in Afghanistan in the next five years, year-wise; and
(c) the details of any other kind of support provided to Afghanistan by India and funds earmarked for the purpose in the current fiscal?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) The year-wise expenditure incurred on assistance to Afghanistan in the last three years is as under:
(Rupees in Crore)
S.No. Year Plan expenditure Non-Plan expenditure Total
1 2012-13 5.00 485.96 490.96
2 2013-14 33.81 551.50 585.31
3 2014-15 61.55 661.97 723.52
(b) The above expenditure was incurred on the following completed or ongoing development cooperation projects:
(i) Construction of 220 kV Transmission Line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul including 220/110 kV sub-station at Kabul and two additional sub stations at Doshi and Charikar, (ii) Reconstruction and completion of Salma Dam Power Project (42 MW) in Herat Province, (iii) Construction of Parliament building in Kabul, (iv) Supply of Medical equipment to Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Kabul and assistance for health services in Afghanistan, (v) Donation of 1000 Buses and 500 Tractors, (vi) About 200 Small Development Projects (SDP) in Afghanistan, (vii) Donation of 1.1 million MT of wheat to Afghanistan, (viii) Restoration of Stor Palace in Kabul, (ix) Scholarship Scheme for 1000 Afghan students every year for pursuing undergraduate and higher studies in India, (x) Fellowship programme for Afghan students through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for courses in various agricultural universities and institutes in India, (xi) Cooperation for Mining Institute in Afghanistan, (xii) Setting up an Agriculture University (ANASTU) in Kandahar, (xiii) Capacity building programmes for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) personnel and Afghan civil servants in India, and (xiv) Medical treatment for ANDSF personnel in India.
(c) India’s engagement in reconstruction and development cooperation with Afghanistan is ongoing. Actual volume of assistance to Afghanistan in the coming financial years will depend on budget allocation, and specific requests from the Afghan authorities. India is committed to assisting Afghanistan in all possible ways in the latter’s ongoing political, security and economic transitions.