KABUL - The Indian government has pledged around $2.87 million in latest financial assistance to Afghanistan to repair around 350 public buses.
“Continuing its long-standing development support to the people of Afghanistan, the Government of India (GoI) has today agreed to provide financial assistance of US$2.87 million to the Ministry of Transport of Afghanistan,” the Embassy of India in Kabul said in a statement.
The statement further added “The Assistance would be used to procure spare parts for M/s Milli Bus Enterprise for refurbishment of 350 previous supplied buses under GoI assistance. An MoU for this was signed today by H.E Manpreet Vohra, Ambassador of India and H.E Mohammad Tahmasi, Minister of Transport of Afghanistan.”
According to the statement, the 350 buses are expected to be operational by end of 2018 and will help to strengthen the public transport network of Kabul.
India has played a major role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime and has invested over $2 billion in various reconstruction and infrastructure projects.
The construction of the major Salma Dam, the new Afghan parliament building, Zaranj-Delaram highway, and some other projects are among the key investments India has done so far in the country.  (KP)