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India gives $10 mn more as grant to Afghanistan

The government on Wednesday announced an additional $10 million grant to war-ravaged Afghanistan, which is engaged in the arduous task of reconstruction and development.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has sanctioned the new grant, which is in addition to a grant for a similar amount announced during the visit to India by Afghan Interim Head Hamid Karzai in February this year, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh announced while video-conferencing with his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah.

"This is a small part of our continued co-operation with Afghanistan", Singh said in a brief interaction with the Afghan dignitary in Kabul marking the launch of Internet connectivity.

Recalling recent visits of Afghan ministers of defence and transport to India, Singh said New Delhi had provided 25 buses and finalised handing over of three Airbus aircraft to Kabul.

Thanking India for its support, Abdullah said Internet facilities had helped his country gain access to the world.

Singh spoke about the ''very positive developments'' in Indo-Afghan relations in recent months.

The Internet connectivity has been set up by a three-member team of the National Informatics Centre sent to Kabul.

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