India is boosting its medical partnership with Afghanistan, announcing a bundle of new health projects in Kabul and the surrounding provinces. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Thursday that India will set up a dedicated Thalassemia centre and a modern diagnostic hub in the Afghan capital. The plan also includes replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) and building a 30‑bed hospital in Bagrami district.
In addition to the new facilities, India is opening an oncology centre, a trauma care unit, and five maternity health clinics in Paktika, Khost and Paktia provinces. The country also gifted Afghanistan 20 ambulances to help with urgent medical transport. These actions come as part of a broader effort to strengthen health cooperation and support Afghan communities in need.
India is also expanding educational ties, continuing to offer scholarships to Afghan students through its e‑ICCR programme. The two sides welcomed the launch of a new India‑Afghanistan Air Freight Corridor, designed to streamline direct trade and logistics between the neighbouring states.
The announcements follow a week‑long visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi. The visit marks the first high‑level Afghan delegation to India since the Taliban took control in August 2021. During the trip, Muttaqi and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar agreed to set up a trade committee to boost economic collaboration. They also discussed expanding India’s technical presence at the Afghan mission and the future arrival of a larger Taliban diplomatic delegation in Delhi.
Jaishankar used the meeting to announce that India will upgrade its Kabul mission into a full embassy, a move that was stalled after the 2021 regime change. In a gesture of goodwill, he handed over five ambulances to the Afghan minister—the first of a total of 20 that India will donate in aid of Afghan healthcare and disaster response.
India’s stewardship of health projects, educational support, and trade infrastructure underlines its commitment to Afghanistan’s development. As Kabul’s political leadership looks to rebuild and grow, the renewed ties between the two countries could offer new opportunities for investment, especially in minerals, energy, and commerce.
Source: aninews
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