India's
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Afghanistan on Saturday to mark the
completion of a nearly $300 million hydroelectric dam project, the latest
symbol of Indian investment in its South Asian neighbor.
The dam, originally built in western Herat province in
1976 before being damaged during the civil wars of the 1990s, was rebuilt by
some Afghan engineers and 1,500 Indian according to the Indian Ministry of
External Affairs.
"It is symbol of our friendship and would us her in
hope, light up homes, nourish the fertile fields of Heart and bring prosperity
to the people of the region," Narendra Modi said in a social media post as
he departed for Afghanistan, the first stop on a five-country trip.
Ashraf Ghani has nurtured closer ties with India in the
past year as relations with Pakistan have deteriorated in the face of continued
insurgent attacks and border tensions.
Afghanistan has walked a fine line as it accepts Indian
aid, with Pakistan historically wary of any Indian influence in Afghanistan.
"Salma Dam is another big step in deepening and
broadening the relationship between Afghanistan and India," Ashraf Ghani
said.
At more than 100 meters (330 feet) high and 540 meters
(1,770 feet) wide, the dam is designed to generate 42 megawatts of power and
help irrigate 75,000 hectares of land, according to Modi.
India has poured more than $1 billion into Afghanistan
reconstruction projects and humanitarian aid, making it one of the largest donors
to the war-torn country.
A new national assembly building in Kabul and major power
line and road construction have been among the main projects funded by India to
Afghanistan.
