New Delhi on Monday approved the third phase of development projects India is carrying out in Afghanistan.

These projects are part of the 92 small-scale programmes that India had previously approved in an effort to strengthen bilateral strategic and commercial ties. The approvals have come when Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of Afghanistan, is on a five-day private visit to India. On Monday, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj separately.

Both countries also inked an agreement that granted visa-free travel for diplomats.

During their meeting, Modi and Abdullah Abdullah discussed the recent terrorist attack on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif on January 4-5, a couple of days after the attack on the Pathankot Air Force base.

Modi also “expressed deep gratitude” to the Afghan government, especially the National Security Forces of Afghanistan, “for their bravery and sacrifice in order to protect the Indians” during the consulate attack, stated a release issued by the PMO. He also reiterated India’s “commitment to extend all possible support to the efforts of the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and democratic country,” the release added.

Visa pact

“Promoting stronger diplomatic ties … India and Afghanistan sign agreement on visa free travel for diplomats,” Vikas Swarup, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, stated in a tweet.

During his visit Abdullah will deliver an address at the Conference on Counter-terrorism-2016 being held in Jaipur, on Tuesday.

His visit comes more than a month after Modi’s visit to Afghanistan, during which he inaugurated the country’s new Parliament building, which was constructed by India.

India recently gave three multi-role Mi-35 helicopters to Afghanistan to combat terrorism. It has also committed a grant of $2 billion for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

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