CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Prime Minister visited Herat on 4 June 2016 in western Afghanistan where he, along with President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E Asharaf Ghani jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam.

Detailed explanation-2: -Afghan-India Friendship Dam (AIFD), formerly Salma Dam, is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project located on the Hari River in Chishti Sharif District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan.

Detailed explanation-3: -Financial and Material Aid Even after the Taliban’s takeover, in January 2022, India has sent 500, 000 Covid vaccine doses to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian aid for the people of Afghanistan. In February 2022, India sent 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Detailed explanation-4: -The hydroelectric plant produces 42 megawatts (56, 000 hp) of power in addition to providing irrigation for 75, 000 hectares (190, 000 acres) of farmland (stabilising the existing irrigation of 35, 000 hectares (86, 000 acres) and development of irrigation facilities to an additional 40, 000 hectares (99, 000 acres) of land).

Detailed explanation-5: -India and Afghanistan have very ancient historic and cultural ties. Despite all the efforts of Pakistan, relations between two countries at the people-to-people level have remained good, surviving Taliban rule in the 1990s and since August last year. India also has strong stakes and strategic interests in Afghanistan.