India Reaffirms Commitment to Afghanistan at UN
Highlighting India's development efforts, Harish said the country's capacity-building and humanitarian initiatives are present across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan through more than 500 development projects
New York: India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, reaffirmed India's deep commitment to the Afghan people, emphasising the strong historical ties between the two countries and India's continued humanitarian and development assistance amid Afghanistan's ongoing challenges.
Speaking at the UNAMA briefing during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Harish described India and Afghanistan as "contiguous neighbours" and "civilizational states" with centuries-old bonds.
"India and Afghanistan are contiguous neighbors, and as civilizational states, our ties have spanned centuries. Our history of close cooperation continues to guide our modern-day relationship," he said. Harish added that India remains committed to supporting peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan through its participation in the Doha Working Group meetings and its strong bilateral development partnership.
Highlighting India's development efforts, Harish said the country's capacity-building and humanitarian initiatives are present across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan through more than 500 development projects. He noted that India is focusing on healthcare, public infrastructure, and capacity building while strengthening cooperation with UN agencies and organisations such as the Afghan Red Cross Society.
He said visits by Afghan ministers to India last year helped ensure better planning and coordination so that assistance reaches intended beneficiaries.
Harish also outlined India's recent humanitarian support. In April 2026, India delivered three tonnes of specialised flood-relief supplies, including kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and sleeping bags, for communities affected by floods.
To support Afghanistan's child immunisation programme, India recently supplied 33 tonnes of BCG, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, along with related materials. He also noted that Afghan children suffering from acute congenital heart diseases are now receiving treatment in India.
India has supported the establishment of maternity clinics in rural areas of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia, while also contributing to the upgradation of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and the construction of oncology and trauma centres in Kabul.
Harish thanked partner organisations, including UNICEF and the Afghan Red Cross Society, for supporting healthcare and humanitarian initiatives. He said projects such as an oncology centre, a trauma centre, the installation of advanced medical equipment in hospitals, a 30-bed hospital in Kabul, and a thalassemia centre in Herat will significantly strengthen healthcare services in the country.
Highlighting India's broader humanitarian assistance, Harish said that since August 2021, India has supplied more than 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 420 tonnes of medicines and vaccines, including anti-cancer and anti-vector disease medicines, as well as 40,000 litres of pesticide.
Following major earthquakes in Afghanistan last year, India was among the first countries to provide aid, sending 60 tonnes of food, 42 tonnes of earthquake-relief materials, and 73 tonnes of essential medicines. In collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, India has also supplied 68 tonnes of medical items and 34 tonnes of social-support materials for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
In the education sector, Harish said India's scholarship and fellowship programmes remain highly popular among Afghan students. Since 2023, around 3,000 students, including 1,000 Afghan women, have benefited from these opportunities.
He announced that India will soon offer another 1,000 scholarships for undergraduate and master's degree courses. Harish added that India continues to provide financial and logistical support to women-led Afghan self-help groups.
