NEW DELHI: India has agreed to provide humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan and modalities for the purpose are being worked out Afghan Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil said today.
Addressing a Press conference here after his talks with Mr. Rajiv Gandhi and External Affairs Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao over the weekend, Mr: Wakil said Afghan President Najibullah had requested such aid in a special communication to Mr. Gandhi.
“India has responded positively to the request to give the assistance and experts are discussing the modalities,” he added.
Asked whether Indian assistance would not blunt India’s efforts with the rebel groups towards finding a political solution to the Afghan question, Mr. Wakil said India had already been helping his country under a technical and economic cooperation programme.
“Indo Afghan cooperation is not a new phenomenon that could create panic among the rebels or others,” he said.
Mr. Wakil said after the signing of the Geneva accords, international aid totaling $1.6 million had been pledged to Afghanistan by the Western powers, along with Japan and Pakistan.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 17, 1989
