Visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani (L) shakes hands with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during their meeting in New Delhi, India, on Sept. 11, 2017. India and Afghanistan Monday inked four pacts and agreed to strengthen security cooperation as foreign ministers of both countries held extensive talks at the second Indo-Afghan Strategic Partnership Council meeting here. (Xinhua/Stringer)
NEW DELHI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- India and Afghanistan Monday inked four pacts and agreed to strengthen security cooperation as Foreign Ministers of both countries held extensive talks at the second Indo-Afghan Strategic Partnership Council meeting here.
The four pacts, signed in presence of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, included a motor vehicles agreement and a fresh document on India's development assistance.
Addressing a press conference the Indian minister said the two countries agreed to embark on a new development partnership, with 116 joint projects expected to bring about socio-economic and infrastructure development to the suburban and rural communities in Afghanistan.
She said the two sides also discussed measures for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. The India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in New Delhi on Sept. 27-30 will bring businesses together. India has also liberalised visa, especially for Afghan businessmen.
Rabbani said that India has agreed to provide assistance to Afghanistan's national defense forces.
