Sushma Swaraj Arrives In Afghanistan To Improve Strategic Ties

The Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked twice in 2008 and 2009 that left 75 people dead.

The issue of Afghanistan refusing to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US is also likely to figure in talks between Swaraj and Karzai.

Karzai has refused to ink the proposed Afghan-US security pact demanding that the US must put an immediate end to military raids on Afghan homes and demonstrate its commitment to peace talks before he would sign the agreement.

The BSA would provide for stay of nearly 15,000 US forces at nine locations across Afghanistan.

Afghan officials said over 350,000 Afghan forces have taken responsibility of security and they were capable of taking care of the country's security.

Among India's major infrastructure projects in the country include, the highway from Zaranj to Delaram in South-Western Afghanistan which is considered a symbol of India's commitment to reconstruction efforts in the country. India is also constructing the Afghan Parliament building.

India has also taken initiative to develop the Chabahar port in Iran which could act as a major transit point for India to Afghanistan. Chabahar port is strategically crucial as it gives access route to Afghanistan. The port, which is surrounded by a free trade zone, is vital for transit facility from India to Afghanistan.
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