(a) whether the President of Afghanistan has visited India;
(b) if so, the details thereof including major agreements signed during the visit along with the benefit to our country from such visits; and
(c) if not, the reasons for not signing MoUs and the areas identified so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (c) At the invitation of Rashtrapatiji, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani paid a State Visit to India from April 27-29, 2015. During this visit, he held extensive discussions with Prime Minister covering areas of bilateral cooperation undertaken under the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership agreement, and on the international regional security environment confronting both countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to patiently and systematically work towards further strengthening of the Strategic Partnership, with a clear focus on the long term relationship between the two countries. They also expressed determination to work together to combat and defeat the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
To further strengthen bilateral cooperation activities in the security and economic fields, and in the field of people-to- people exchanges it was agreed that the following agreements would be finalized shortly: (i) Extradition Treaty between India and Afghanistan; (ii) Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons between India and Afghanistan; (iii) Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters between India and Afghanistan; (iv) Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Civil and Commercial Matters between India and Afghanistan; (v) Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between India and Afghanistan; and (vi) MOU on Visa Free Entry for holders of Diplomatic Passports.
A united, sovereign, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan is in India’s interest. The recent State Visit of the Afghan President once again underlines India’s long term commitment to assist the Afghan people in their efforts to build a strong, stable and secure Afghanistan.
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