India, Afghanistan ink pact for visa-free travel by envoys
India and Afghanistan have signed an agreement for visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries.
This agreement was signed after Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghanistan Government Abdullah Abdullah met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Both leaders also shared views on further deepening the India-Afghanistan relationship both in the bilateral and regional context and also to reenergised the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Afghanistan CEO also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during which they discussed the Afghan peace process, internal political situation in the strife-ravaged country.
They also discussed security situation in the bilateral and regional context. Indian side also assured that implementation of existing as many as 92 small developmental projects in Afghanistan will be expedited.
Presently, India as part of its goodwill diplomacy is helping Afghanistan in various spheres including defence and for meeting its developmental needs. Earlier in December 2015, India had given three multi-role Mi-35 helicopters to Afghanistan for combating terrorism in the war-torn country.
CEO of Afghanistan Government
- It is an extra-constitutional post within the Government of Afghanistan created in 2014 following the disputes that arose in the 2014 Presidential election when both Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani had claimed victory.
- The election dispute was resolved by signing a national unity agreement in which it was agreed that Ashraf Ghani would assume the Presidency and a new post of CEO would be created for Abdullah Abdullah.
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Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016