India's Support for Afghan Refugees

India is planning to assist Afghanistan by setting up projects in the health and education sectors to aid refugees fleeing Pakistan.

Context

• Pakistan has been expelling Afghan refugees, creating tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
• India's decision to support Afghanistan follows a meeting between Foreign Secretary and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister in Dubai.
• Nearly a million refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran since late 2023.

India-Afghanistan Relationship

• India has a historical relationship with Afghanistan, which was emphasized during the recent talks.
• The meeting signaled a potential shift from a purely humanitarian approach to more strategic cooperation.

Areas of Cooperation

• Sports Collaboration: Strengthening cooperation in cricket was discussed.
• Trade and Commerce: Promotion of Chabahar port use for trade and commercial activities was agreed upon.

Regional Developments and Security Concerns

• India condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan.
• The Afghan side acknowledged India's security concerns and thanked India for its continued support.