In Afghanistan

It did not need the July 7 bomb attack at the Indian embassy in Kabul to underline the difficult circumstances in which the mission meets its diplomatic and humanitarian responsibilities. Indeed, the range of projects and programmes undertaken by the government to assist in the stabilisation of Afghanistan had made the embassy a target of the terrorists. It is good, therefore, that the ministry of external affairs has decided to enhance the compensation package and insurance cover to its staff in Afghanistan.

India8217;s activities in Afghanistan are perhaps a little too casually appreciated here. At a time when a dangerous weariness is creeping into the NATO-led security missions in Afghanistan, and the air is rife with possibilities of deals with the Taliban to hasten the schedule for withdrawal of foreign forces, listing these activities is important. India has consulates and thereby bears the security burden of protecting these installations in all key urban centres, besides Kabul, in Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, Jalalabad and Heart. It has undertaken road-building to improve road connectivity in Afghanistan. It is securing electricity to Kabul. For power coming from Uzbekistan it has been involved in installing transmission lines for the last stretch to the Afghan capital, even organising this country8217;s biggest airlift ever for the purpose. India is also delivering healthcare and education projects, besides taking up a programme to provide nutritionally fortified biscuits for schoolchildren.

India is a stakeholder in improving Afghanistan8217;s socio-economic growth prospects and in the stabilisation of its security situation. This for reasons of both India8217;s own security requirements and the responsibility to assist meaningfully in its neighbourhood. For its people who conduct themselves in difficult conditions, care and compensation are long overdue.