Afghanistan's Crucial Infrastructures Built By India Over 20 Years At Risk After Taliban Takeover War-Torn Country

The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the United States was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the United States and its allies melted away.

Taliban captured the presidential palace in Afghanistan on Sunday soon after entering the capital city of Kabul. | Twitter

Now as the Taliban have seized the power, India faces a situation where it may have no role to play in Afghanistan who could see a reversal of India's efforts in Afghan over the last two decades. New Delhi has played a significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Afghanistan. According to the Indian Express report, India has invested over $3 billion worth in various infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

Here¡¯s a list of some of the biggest development projects that India helped built in Afghanistan.

Salma Dam

Afghan-India Friendship Salma Dam | Twitter

Know as India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam, the 42-MW hydropower and irrigation Salma Dam in Herat Province was completed by India in 2016. It's one of the largest dams in Afghanistan and provides irrigation water and electricity to thousands of families in the province.

The Afghan Parliament

The Afghan Parliament | Reuters

As its contribution to the establishment of democratic institutions in Afghanistan, India committed to construct the new Parliament building in Kabul. Its foundation stone was laid by Baba-e-Millat, Zahir Shah, in the presence of the President of Afghanistan and the Prime Minister of India in 2005. After the finalisation of design work and architectural plans, construction commenced in January 2009 and was finished in 36 months' time.

Zaranj-Delaram Highway

Zaranj-Delaram Highway | Wikipedia

This 218 Kms long highway provides connectivity to the very end of South-western Afghanistan and Iran by linking Zaranj to the Kandahar-Herat highway. It also furthers regional cooperation by encouraging new trade and transit through the Iranian port of Chahbahar and provides supplementary and shorter access of Afghanistan to the sea. The highway was inaugurated by President Hamid Karzai and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on January 22nd 2009.

Stor Palace

Stor Palace Afghanistan | archnet.org

In 2016, the restored Stor Palance in Kabul was inaugurated by PM Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Stor Palace in Kabul, originally built in the late 19th century, and which was the setting for the 1919 Rawalpindi Agreement by which Afghanistan became an independent country. In 2009 India, Afghanistan, and the Aga Khan Development Network signed a tripartite agreement for its restoration.

Healthcare projects

India built healthcare centres in border provinces of Badakhshan, Balkh, Kandahar, Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nooristan, Paktia and Paktika. India also restored the Indira Gandhi Institute for Child Health built with India¡¯s help in 1985. 'Indian Medical Missions¡¯ holds free consultations camps in several areas.

Power generation and transmission project

polekhomri-m.gov.af/Representative Image

India also built the 220kV DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, which supplies electricity to the national capital Kabul. India also restored several telecommunications lines and infrastructure in many provinces.

Other major contributions

According to MEA, New Delhi had gifted 400 buses and 200 mini-buses, 105 utility vehicles for municipalities, 285 military vehicles for the Afghan National Army and 10 ambulances for government hospitals in five cities.