KABUL - Manpreet Vohra (Indian Foreign Service Officer batch-1988) has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to Afghanistan, succeeding Amar Sinha.

Manpreet Vohra (IFS: 1988), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, India’s Minister of External Affairs announced in a statement on Monday. “He is expected to take up his assignment shortly,” the statement states.

Vohra is the 6th Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan after the fall of Taliban regime in 2001.

Vohra has served as the Deputy High Commissioner at Indian High Commission in Pakistan besides having worked in Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division of the External Affairs Ministry.

Prior to this, he served as India’s Ambassador to Peru.

Afghanistan and India have friendly relations and are strategic partners.

India has played a crucial role by participating in the rebuilding of Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Since 2002, the Government of India has committed USD 2 billion dollars to the socio-economic rebuilding of the Afghan state and society in accordance with the development priorities of the Government and the people of Afghanistan.

India is also building the Salma dam in western Herat province which will incur a cost of around $300 million by the time of its completion.

Afghan government recently renamed the dam to “Afghan-India Friendship Dam”. (KP)