BENGALURU, August 19: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and its people on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day and said India supported its quest for a just society free from peril of terrorism.
Afghanistan celebrates its 101st Independence Day on Wednesday. The day is marked as Independence Day to celebrate the signing of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty on this day in 1919 between Amanullah Ghazi and Britain releasing it from protected state status.
In a tweet, the Indian Prime Minister mentioned “Independence Day greeting to President @ashrafghani and the Afghan people! India supports Afghanistan’s aspiration to shape its destiny for a better future, and its pursuit for a just society free from the menace of terrorism.”
However, the Independence Day celebrations were hit by 14 rockets crashing into several parts of Kabul including the presidential compound on Tuesday morning even as the preparations were on for celebrating the Independence Day. At least 10 civilians including four children and one woman were wounded in the attacks.
World leaders Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud were among those who greeted Afghanistan on the occasion.
(Venkatesh B Iyer)