External Affairs Minister Jaishankar speaks to Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar on bilateral development cooperation as well as the Afghan peace process.

On his part, Atmar said Afghanistan appreciates its growing relations with India.

India last month announced a new package of over 100 high-impact community projects worth USD 80 million for the country at a global conference on Afghanistan.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested USD two billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.

India has been keenly following the evolving political situation after the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February.

The deal provided for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war with the Taliban in the country.

New Delhi has also been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does not lead to any ungoverned spaces where terrorists and their proxies can relocate.

India has been calling upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in that country including those from the minority community for a prosperous and safe future. 

(IMAGE CREDITS:PTI)