In Afghanistan, Modi unveils biggest dam, awarded highest civilian honour
Heart: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today jointly inaugurated a landmark dam, a Rs 1,700 crore showpiece infrastructure project by India in strategically important Herat province, reflecting India's strong commitment to reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.
The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, on river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran, will irrigate 75,000 hectares of land and generate 42 MW of power.
Modi is here as part of his five-nation tour and it is his second visit to Afghanistan in less than six months. Touted as a "landmark" infrastructure project, the dam located 165 km east of Herat town, is expected to significantly boost the agricultural economy of the province.
The project has been executed and implemented by WAPCOS Ltd, a government of India undertaking under ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
In his address at the inauguration ceremony, Ghani welcomed Modi to his "second home", Afghanistan, and said a "long standing dream" of the country has been realised after 30 years with help from India.
"Today, we come together to make eternal India Afghan ties and friendship. This Dam will chart a new course of cooperation and Prosperity," said Ghani adding "Our people identify India with roads, dams and over 200 small development projects."
"Contrary to those who spread chaos and destruction, we two countries have taken the joint decision to build and grow," said Ghani.
After the inauguration of dam, Narendra Modi was conferred with Afghanistan's highest civilian honour, Amir Amanullah Khan Award.
In an address after inaugurating the Afghan-India Friendship Dam along with President Ashraf Ghani, Modi hailed the people of Afghanistan for denouncing terrorism and said division among them will only help those seeking to "dominate" the nation from outside.
Modi said India will extend cooperation to every part of war-torn Afghanistan despite facing barriers of politics, geography and terror attacks on its mission.
"It was a war not of Afghan making, but it was one that stole the future of an entire generation of Afghans," the Prime Minister said, adding that the brave Afghan people are today sending a message that the forces of "destruction and death, denial and domination" shall not prevail.
When Afghanistan succeeds in defeating terrorism, the world will be "safer and more beautiful", he said.
"This dam has not been built by bricks and mortar, but by the faith of our friendship and the valour of Afghans and Indians. And, at this moment of pride, we also stand in grief and gratitude for lives sacrificed so that Afghan people will have a future they so richly deserve and so deeply desire," Modi said.
Resolving to stand by Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said India's cooperation will extend to "every part" of the war-torn country and that the partnership will benefit every section of Afghan society.
"In your clear eyes, I saw the deep well of affection for India. In your smiles, I saw the joy of this relationship. In the firmness of your embrace, I felt the trust in our friendship," Modi said in presence of Ghani.
In his around 25-minute-long speech, Modi touched upon the peace process in Afghanistan, the massive terrorist attack on Indian Consulate in Herat and reconstruction activities in that country and said Afghanistan's success is a deeply-held hope and desire of every Indian.
"It comes from the love and admiration for Afghans in our hearts. We want to see your democracy strike deep roots; your people unite; and, your economy prosper. We want to see your art, culture and poetry thrive. And, we want to see your cricketers join the ranks of test players and also seek glory in IPL.”
"But, it also comes from the recognition that when Afghanistan succeeds, the world will be safer and more beautiful. When the values that define Afghans prevail, terrorism and extremism will be in retreat.”
"Because we know that extremism and terrorism cannot stop at your border or end at the boundaries of our region," the Prime Minister said.
India will remain a trusted partner of Afghanistan because of the time-tested "values that Afghans and Indians seek each other, not because they harbour designs against another", Modi said.
The Prime Minister said there has been "resistance" and "suspicion" of others about India's role in Afghanistan but its resolve was strong that will guide it forward in ensuring the country's prosperity.
"I said then (during the last visit), and I will say it again, your friendship is our honour; your dreams are our duty. India's capacity may be limited, but our commitment is without limits.”
"Our resources may be modest, but our will is boundless. For others, their commitments may have a sunset clause, but our relationship is timeless. We face barriers of geography and politics, but we define our path from the clarity of our purpose," said Modi.
Without naming any country, Modi said India drew strength and confidence from Afghanistan's deep commitment to "protect" the partnership from the "designs" of others.
"With resolve and patience, courage and belief, we have together overcome distance and hurdles, threats and violence," said the Prime Minister.
Talking about the dam, Modi said the fields that produce the finest fruits and saffron shall once again "come alive" with the clear waters of the river. "The homes that lived through dark nights of dread will now be lit by the power of hope," the Prime Minister said, adding that "the blood, sweat and tears of our people are mixed into this earth and have formed between us an eternal bond, written into the soil of this land."
In his address, the Prime Minister invoked the Holy Quran to say that "river is central to the image of Paradise" and cited India's ancient scriptures in which "rivers defined our nation and were celebrated as the giver of life".
"Today, we are not just launching a project that will irrigate land and light up homes. We are reviving a region, restoring hope, renewing life and redefining Afghanistan's future.”
"The dam is a generator not just of electricity but also of optimism and belief in the future of Afghanistan," Modi said, insisting he is here to renew India's pledge for the partnership.
The Herat province lies on the ancient trade routes of the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Roads from Herat to Iran, Turkmenistan, and other parts of Afghanistan are considered strategically important.
All equipment and material required for the dam were transported from India to Bander-e-Abbas port of Iran via sea route and then along 1200 km by road from there to Islam Kila border post at Iran-Afghanistan border and then further 300 km by road from the border post to the site.
Over 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers were involved in construction of the dam for several years in difficult condition.
Afghanistan is Modi's first stop as part of his five-nation tour which will also take him to Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.
Modi had visited Kabul on December 25 last year during which he had inaugurated a swanky Parliament complex that was built by India at a cost of USD 90 million.
India has a strategic partnership with Afghanistan and is implementing projects worth USD 2 billion to help rebuild the country's infrastructure.
Complementing resolve of the Afghan people in defeating terrorism, Modi said the world will be safer and more beautiful if the country succeeds in its path of peace. "When the values that define Afghans prevail, terrorism and extremism will be in retreat... we know that extremism and terrorism cannot stop at your border or end at the boundaries of our region," he said.
Afghanistan's success, the Prime Minister said, is a deeply held hope and desire of every Indian, adding "It comes from the love and admiration for Afghans in our hearts.”
He further said the values that give the "great Afghan people the patience and persistence to seek peace with their own who have chosen the path of violence and also with those who support them".
The Prime Minister also talked about India's investment in Chahbahar port in Iran and said it will give Afghanistan a new route to the world and a new path to prosperity. "The fruits of our friendship are not confined to Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar and Herat. They will never be. Our cooperation will extend to every part of Afghanistan. Our partnership will benefit every section of Afghan society," the Prime Minister said.
Striking an emotional chord, the Prime Minister also referred to Herat's great Sufi Poet Hakim Jami, to say whatever happens, in a bright or a dark moment, "we will always experience, the freshness and happiness of the gentle breeze of friendship."
In his speech, Modi also quoted Khwaja Moiunuddin Chishti, the first of the Chishti saints in India, to say human beings must have the affection of the sun, the generosity of the river and the hospitality of the earth.
"Where some doubt your future, we are certain that no force or power can deny the Afghan people the destiny they have chosen, however long and hard the journey may be.”
"So, on international platforms and in regional forums, we will speak in one voice for the Afghan right to a peaceful, prosperous, united, inclusive and democratic nation.”
"And, in the fields, villages and cities of Afghanistan, we will work together for that future," Modi said.
The Prime Minister also talked about attack on Indian missions in Afghanistan and said when Indians were under attack, the brave Afghans guard them as their own. "They put themselves in the line of fire so that their Indian friends are safe. This is the nobility of your heart and the strength of your friendship," he said, referring to the terror attacks on Indian missions in Jalalabad, Herat and Kabul.
Modi also wished the people of Afghanistan and all Muslims across the world for the Holy Month of Ramzan. In his address at the inauguration ceremony, Ghani welcomed Modi to his "second home", Afghanistan, and said a "long standing dream" of the country has been realised after 30 years with help from India.
India has been supporting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, broad-based and inclusive process of peace and reconciliation, and advocating the need for a sustained and long-term commitment to Afghanistan by the international community.
Earlier, Modi was welcomed by a group of children at Governor's Office in Herat.
