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PM Narendra Modi Arrives In Kabul To Inaugurate Parliament Building

PM Narendra Modi Arrives In Kabul To Inaugurate Parliament Building
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a meeting with Russian President at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 24, 2015. Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia. AFP PHOTO / POOL / MAXIM SHIPENKOV / AFP / POOL / MAXIM SHIPENKOV (Photo credit should read MAXIM SHIPENKOV/AFP/Getty Images)
MAXIM SHIPENKOV via Getty Images
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a meeting with Russian President at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 24, 2015. Modi is on a two-day official visit to Russia. AFP PHOTO / POOL / MAXIM SHIPENKOV / AFP / POOL / MAXIM SHIPENKOV (Photo credit should read MAXIM SHIPENKOV/AFP/Getty Images)

KABUL -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived on a visit during which he is expected to hold talks with Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani, and inaugurate the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of $90 million.

Modi who flew in the early hours from Moscow, where he had annual summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was received by Afghan national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

"From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost," External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival Modi said, "delighted to be in Kabul among friends. Will meet Ashraf Ghani, chief executive officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai".

Modi will be holding talks with Afghan leaders on key bilateral issues, including security co-operation and discuss the ways to help war-torn country where India has committed over two billion assistance.

The Prime Minister will also be inaugurating the Parliament building and expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of $45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister's visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.