In an interview on bilateral trade and economic relations, tourism and business opportunities and Indian community in Afghanistan, Ambassador of Afghanistan to India, Mr Shaida Mohammad Abdali talks to India Empire’s Assistant Editor Misha Singh. Mr Abdali is also concurrently accredited to Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. In his earlier assignments, he provided the President with policy and oversight advice on national security issues. He administered the National Security Council meetings and chaired the Deputies Committee Meetings of the National Security Council, which facilitated strategic coordination and communication among Afghan and international stakeholders to help address Afghanistan’s security and development needs. Internationally he has been honoured with the CCI Technology Education Excellence Award in 2014 for initiating and promoting education ties between India and Afghanistan; the Honorary Texan Award in the United States of America; the World Green Diplomacy Award in New Delhi in 2013; a gold medal for fostering diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and India by Amity University; and a Life Time Achievement Award by the Lions International Club; and recently Outstanding Achievements Award As the Ambassador of Afghanistan by National Defense University, thereon his image is permanently displayed at the International Hall of Fame

Please let us know about Afghanistan’s bilateral trade and economic relations with India…

Well in the outset let me brief you about the overall outline of the strategic partnership with India which concludes various areas of co-operation. Particularly the economic relationship is very crucial and this is not new, Afghanistan has been a traditional economically integrated country throughout the history. We are trying to expand this relationship as much as possible. We have been working on very strategic economic projects with India which will not only contribute to the economies of India and Afghanistan but the economies of the entire region. Of course the transit trade agreements that are going to happen in the near future are on the top of the agenda for both countries. This would further promote our economic ties. Currently, we do not have many routes for business. But certainly there are businesses going both ways, large number of business from India go to Afghan and lots of Afghan businesses come to India. There are around 100 Indian companies in Afghanistan, although most of them are in Joint Ventures with Afghan companies in sectors such as services and construction. So, we are very optimistic that Afghan -India relationship will go high and high with the passage of time because of the will in the two countries to be connected socially, culturally, politically and economically. We are making efforts to include India in APTTA (Afghanistan Pakistan Transit and Trade Agreement), hopefully when that happens it will largely help in terms of connectivity between our countries and the businesses will flourish.