Modi, Ghani inaugurate Stor Palace
PM Modi underscores India's historic ties with Afghanistan
PHOTO: REUTERS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the renovated Stor Palace in Kabul with Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani via video conference. During the inauguration ceremony, Modi said the restored Stor Palace was a reminder of Afghanistan’s glorious traditions and a scene beyond the shadows of violence in the country.
Modi in his video conference with Ghani said, "Today we have once again come together to celebrate yet another achievement of our friendship. Afghanistan is India’s immediate neighbor and we take pride in saying that we are close friends with Afghanistan and a population of 1.25 billion people will always be on your side. Indians will help in making Afghanistan prosperous.”
Former Afghan president 'appreciates' Modi for highlighting Balochistan issue
Ghani responded by saying, “We are ready to spare no effort in protecting peace, overcome terror and extremism and work for prosperity of our nations. I express my most sincere appreciation for the government of India.”
Prime Minister Modi termed the inauguration of the restored Stor Palace as "an entirely different, yet in many ways more fundamental, dimension" of Indo-Afghan ties. "I say this because it brings back to life a valuable landmark of Afghanistan's cultural heritage. To those who can't see beyond shadows of violence in Afghanistan, the restored Stor palace is a reminder of the glory of Afghanistan's tradition."
Modi used the occasion to talk about the India, Afghanistan and Iran transit corridor deal and about the India-funded Salma Dam built in the Herat province.
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After the Salma Dam, this comes as the second joint effort of both countries. The Stor Palace, also known as Qasr-i-Stor, was initially built as a one-story pavilion during the reign of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. It was expanded on at least two occasions in the 20th century. In 1919, one of the rooms in the palace was used for the signing of the Rawalpindi Agreement, with which Afghanistan became a sovereign state.
This article originally appeared on Times of India.
Modi in his video conference with Ghani said, "Today we have once again come together to celebrate yet another achievement of our friendship. Afghanistan is India’s immediate neighbor and we take pride in saying that we are close friends with Afghanistan and a population of 1.25 billion people will always be on your side. Indians will help in making Afghanistan prosperous.”
Former Afghan president 'appreciates' Modi for highlighting Balochistan issue
Ghani responded by saying, “We are ready to spare no effort in protecting peace, overcome terror and extremism and work for prosperity of our nations. I express my most sincere appreciation for the government of India.”
Prime Minister Modi termed the inauguration of the restored Stor Palace as "an entirely different, yet in many ways more fundamental, dimension" of Indo-Afghan ties. "I say this because it brings back to life a valuable landmark of Afghanistan's cultural heritage. To those who can't see beyond shadows of violence in Afghanistan, the restored Stor palace is a reminder of the glory of Afghanistan's tradition."
Modi used the occasion to talk about the India, Afghanistan and Iran transit corridor deal and about the India-funded Salma Dam built in the Herat province.
Pak-Afghan border shut in Chaman after Afghans desecrate Pakistani flag
After the Salma Dam, this comes as the second joint effort of both countries. The Stor Palace, also known as Qasr-i-Stor, was initially built as a one-story pavilion during the reign of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. It was expanded on at least two occasions in the 20th century. In 1919, one of the rooms in the palace was used for the signing of the Rawalpindi Agreement, with which Afghanistan became a sovereign state.
This article originally appeared on Times of India.