Diplomatist Magazine DIplomatist September 2018 | Page 63

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EMBASSY OF INDIA
KABUL
Foreword
I am delighted that Diplomatist magazine is publishing a Special Report on India- Afghanistan
relations. The series of articles in this issue focus and highlight the potential of Afghanistan and its
emerging economy. The articles capture India’s efforts in assisting Afghanistan’s social and economic
development, and what our two countries can do more together.
India and Afghanistan enjoy warm and friendly civilisational relations that go back thousands of
years. Our ever-growing links are signifi ed by frequent exchange of high level visits, rapid growth in
bilateral trade, technical cooperation and people-to-people contact, especially business delegations.
The India-Afghanistan relationship is blossoming despite barriers of geography and regional
politics. Our Strategic Partnership, signed in 2011, consolidates our various interactions and provides
a robust institutional mechanism to build the relationship further. India and Afghanistan have a shared
interest in the success of an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process within
the framework of the Afghan Constitution. The security of Afghanistan and what happens here impacts
us as a close neighbour, which also suffers from the spread of terrorism and terrorist groups supported
from outside our borders. India is, therefore, also engaged in assisting in Afghanistan’s security.
Our liberal visa policy for Afghanistan is tremendously benefi ting the Afghan people. India has
become the most favoured destination for Afghans for tourism, medical treatment, education, business,
training and research, etc.
I thank the publishers of and contributors to this Special Report. I am certain that the readers of
Diplomatist will fi nd valuable information in it on India- Afghanistan relations and Afghanistan’s
vast potential for connecting Central and South Asia and for its own socio-economic growth.
Vinay Kumar
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida • 63