Indian PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Hydroelectric Salma Dam In Afghanistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a dam on Saturday in Afghanistan revealing more strengthening ties between the two nations.

Built at the cost of $290 million, the 42 megawatt Salma hydroelectric dam in western Herat province of Afghanistan bordering Iran is one of the two major projects of India.

Since the Taliban was toppled from power in 2001 India has invested more than $2 billion into Afghanistan.

Indian PM jointly pressed a button within Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to start the turbines of the Salma dam. Colorful balloons were also released in celebration.

Ghani said with the inauguration of the dam the first of two major projects of India in Afghanistan has been completed.

The dam will boost power capacity besides helping in the irrigation of thousands of hectares of farm land.

Modi said the two countries dreamt about the project in the 1970s and now the people in Afghanistan know forces of death, destruction, denial and domination shall not prevail.

India is one of the key supporters of Afghanistan’s post-Taliban government.

In December 2015 Modi also inaugurated the new parliament complex of the country in capital Kabul. India had built it with an investment of $90 million.

Last month India and Afghanistan signed a three-way transit agreement with Iran to develop its southern port of Chabahar. It is expected to boost up economic growth in the region. It will bypass Pakistan to connect the three nations to central Asia.