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Review A PUBLICATION OF THE EMBASSY OF INDIA, http://meakabul.nic.in VOLUME 3 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2007

INDIAINDIA PARTICIPATESPARTICIPATES ATAT THETHE AFGHANISTANAFGHANISTAN DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT FORUMFORUM

Afghanistan President addressing the Development Forum (ADF) meeting held on April 29 and 30 in Kabul. Indian Ambassador to Kabul Rakesh SOood led a Indian delegation in the meeting, organised by the country’s Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ndian Ambassador to Afghanistan, These papers are expected to create road library, furniture, laboratory equipment, HT Rakesh Sood, led India’s participation at maps for future strategies on these issues. stabilizer and lifts. I the Afghanistan Development Forum In welcoming the participants, President The surgical block was handed over in meeting, which was held in Kabul on April Hamid Karzai expressed his gratitude to the February, 2005. The new polyclinic was 29-30, co-hosted by the Ministry of country’s international partners for their gen- handed more recently during the visit of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. erous commitment to the people of Indian External Affairs Minister, Pranab Ambassador Sood was assisted by Joint Afghanistan. Highlighting both progress and Mukherjee to Kabul in January. Five teams of Secretary responsible for Afghanistan affairs priority concerns in the areas of health, edu- Indian Medical Missions have also been pro- in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in cation, capacity development, aid coordina- viding basic health services in Kabul, , , Dilip Sinha, and Minister at the tion, anti-, counter-narcotics, , and Mazar-e-Sharif Indian Embassy in Kabul, Sandeep Kumar. energy, security and regional cooperation, since 2002. The Afghanistan Development Forum the President emphasised the importance of Almost one third of India’s total assistance focused on ensuring effective implementa- sustained international engagement. programme is in the energy sector, with tion of development projects and presenta- The Forum was important for India as it is important projects like construction of the tion of government sector strategies in the the eight largest donor in Afghanistan, with a 220KV transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri prioritised sectors of health, energy and edu- $750 million assistance programme. India is to Kabul under the North East Power System cation. undertaking important projects relating to all programme; reconstruction of the Salma Papers were also presented on three sepa- the sector strategies presented at the Dam in ; power project in rate working groups covering the cross-cut- Afghanistan Development Forum i.e. health, , with construction of sub- ting areas of strategic importance to energy and education. stations at Miamana, Juma Bazar, Andkhey Afghanistan’s development i.e., aid-effective- In the field of health, India has an ongoing and Faizabad, and transmission lines from ness, capacity development and provincial commitment to the Indira Gandhi Institute Andhkey to Miamana; as well as the solar planning. for Child Health, in Kabul, which it has been electrification of 100 villages in remote areas. Further, papers were also presented on reconstructing in various phases, including In the education sector, India has recon- areas of concern in the development para- reconstruction of the surgical ward, polyclin- structed the in Kabul, digm: anti-corruption; refugees; and rural ic, diagnostic centre, commissioning of new with construction of classrooms, provision of and urban development, employment cre- heating system, electric sub station, solid education kits, laboratory and gym equip- ation and counter narcotics. waste disposal system, supply of medical ments. Continued on page 4 JCMB-V Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board meet

onjoint with the Afghanistan Development Forum (ADF) meeting C from April 29-30, was held the fifth meeting of the Joint Coordination Monitoring Board (JCMB-V) in Kabul on May 1. The Indian team for ADF led by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Rakesh Sood, also participated at the JCMB-V. The JCMB was set up as a central mecha- nism between the Afghan government and international community to resolve strategic issues, ensure greater coherence of efforts and provide high-level political support for the implementation of the London Compact. With a life span of five years until March 2011, in line with the life span of the London Compact, it succeeds the Bonn Agreement and lays out a framework for international engagement with Afghanistan through a series of benchmarks for consolidating peace, strengthening intuitional and human capacities and pursuing political, economic and social development. The JCMB structure comprising eight con- The fifth meeting of the Joint Coordination Monitoring Board (JCMB) in progress in Kabul on May 1. sultative groups based on the eight south and south east of the country was ment, but also in terms of viable economic Afghanistan National Development Strategy noted as one of the main obstacles. The and developmental strategies. Cross border sub-pillars (security; governance; rule of law JCMB called on the Afghan government to co-operation, in particular, needed to be and human rights; infrastructure; education; draft a national anti-corruption strategy by strengthened through enhanced dialogue, health; agriculture and rural development; October this year to simplify the electoral greater intelligence sharing and more effec- social protection; and economic governance cycle within the next five months; to make tive communication strategies. and private sector development), 28 working efforts to implement the work plan on transi- Regional economic cooperation was one groups, 33 sub-working groups and five cross tional justice launched in December last of the key thrust areas focused upon by India cutting thematic groups (on gender equity, year; as also to focus more energy on imple- at JCMB-V. It felt that this sector, which was counter-narcotics, regional cooperation, mentation to ensure that the progress made also an important benchmark of the London environment and anti-corruption), is becomes more evident on the ground. Compact as well as a strategic element of the designed to ensure wide participation in the It was also decided that the government Afghan National Development Strategy, was development of the strategies, prioritisation recommendations for strengthening the crucial in the reconstruction and donor-led of activities as well as a feedback on the over- Disbandment of Illegal Armed Group development process of Afghanistan. all approach. (DIAG) programme will be presented to the Several regional cooperation events had The inaugural meeting of JCMB was held next JCMB meeting. taken place since the Bonn Conference, on April 30, 2006 in Kabul and further meet- India maintained that it remained fully including the Kabul (2005) and New Delhi ings were held on July 30, 2006 (Kabul), committed to the JCMB structures and (2006) Regional Economic Cooperation , 2006 (Kabul) and January 31, processes. With respect to security, it fully Conferences, which had provided a stimulus 2007, in Berlin. appreciated the Afghan government’s posi- to regional integration. The JCMB-V meeting in Kabul found the tion that the challenge of insurgency, suicide Afghanistan had also been formally admit- London Compact on track with momentum in attacks, bombing, poppy cultivation, cross- ted as the eighth member of the South Asian developing sectoral strategies for attaining border security, corruption and growing dis- Association of Regional Cooperation in April its benchmarks and finalising the sidence among the Afghan people required this year, which should yield significant divi- Afghanistan National Development Strategy both a robust regional and international dends for Afghanistan, given its geo-strate- by mid-2008. political solution as well as a stronger inter- gic position as a central land bridge between While progress was noted in healthcare, nal military response. South, Central and West and . education, community projects, microfi- At the same time, India also sensed that The future challenge would be in develop- nance, government revenue collection and the palpable reality with respect to the pre- ing coordinated measures for the implementa- the modernization of the Afghan National vailing security paradigm in Afghanistan tion of the programmes formulated in these Army, the need was felt for accelerating work needed to be reflected more realistically, for regional processes covering cross-border ter- on turning initial outputs into meaningful the stake holders to be able to come up with rorism, law enforcement, land transit as well as changes. appropriate tactical responses to this strate- broader investment, trade and business issues. The deteriorating security situation in gic challenge — not just in terms of enforce- Continued on page 3

2 I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 7 h t t p : / / m e a k a b u l . n i c . i n AFGHAN NEWS Afghan team participates in CEO Roundtable

similar to that given by E.U. and U.S., lack of access for Afghanistan including land transit from India as well as problems being faced by Afghanistan at sea ports and evinced keen interest in obtaining help and co-operation amongst the SAARC countries for capacity building. In rounding up their discussions, the South Asia CEOs’ Business Forum made 14 specific recommendations for consideration to SAARC summit on themes ranging from enhancement of intra regional trade to investment and co-operation in agriculture. The roundtable also supported establish- ment of a South Asia Development Fund (SDF), issue of a single visa for region pat- terned on the model of Schengen visa in Europe, setting up SAARC hospitals in each country and establishment of South Asia Hospital Society and South Asia Institute for Skills Development and Technical Afghan Delegation attending the South Asia CEO Roundtable (from left to right): Haifizi, Chairman, AICC; Dr. Manpower. Farooqi, CEO, AICC; Ms. Kamela Sediqi, CEO, KBDS; Subodh Bhargava, Chairman of South Asia CEO Roundtable; The conference also came up with the idea Mahmood Kazrai, CEO, AIC and Sumeer Bhasin, Advisor, AISA. of setting up a South Asia Alliance for he conference is first of its kind in Advisor, Afghanistan Investment Support Responsible Business (SARB). The SARB some respects. It is the first time a Agency (AISA) and Ms Kamela Sediqi, CEO, will have a mandate and mission to promote T roundtable of CEOs of South Asian Kaweyan Development Service (KBDS) corporate social responsibility (CSR) and region was held, bringing top business lead- attended the one-day conference, rubbing explore mechanisms to further a regional ers of South Asia together. their shoulders with business leaders of the approach towards promotion of CSR. It is first time a delegation of CEOs and other SAARC member countries. The Afghan delegation found the round- business honchos from Afghanistan partici- CII organised this South Asia CEO’s table to be an enriching experience and also pated in such a conference. Roundtable to discuss the prospects and helpful in establishing the peer network with The conference is regarded as a prequel to impediments in taking forward the process of the counterparts of other SAARC Countries. the historic 14th SAARC Summit, which wit- South Asian co-operation and integration CEO of AICC Farooqi felt that participa- nessed Afghanistan formally joining SAARC among the member countries. tion in such conferences, with ample scope as its 8th member. The business leaders took up a host of to interact with top rung of business execu- The Roundtable of CEOs of South Asia, issues ranging from trade, infrastructure, tives from other countries of the region, organised by Confederation of Indian services, investment, tourism, agriculture, offered a great learning experience and net- Industries (CII), New Delhi, on April 2, was energy, education, healthcare and develop- working opportunity both on one to one a new experience to the Afghan business ment of small and medium industries (SMEs) basis and at the institutional level. leaders. with a view to increase the employment gen- Reflecting on her experience in this con- A five member delegation comprising eration opportunities. ference, Ms. Sediqi, a delegate from Hamidullah Farooqi, CEO, Afghanistan Participating enthusiastically in the pro- Afghanistan, said, “The roundtable is International Chamber of Commerce (AICC), ceedings, the delegates from Afghanistan extremely useful, as it provided exposure to Azarakhsh Hafizi, Chairman AICC, raised issues such as importance of econom- us within the region and an opportunity to Mahmood Karzai, CEO, Afghanistan ic development for the region, zero tariff trade ideas and establish contacts in the Investment Company (AIC), Sumeer Bhasin, access for Afghanistan by SAARC countries business world of South Asia”. ! Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board meet Continued from page 2 Afghanistan’s reconstruction from a win-win processes in place in Afghanistan would The main focus needed to be maintained perspective. India was willing to take on any have to be Afghanised, with Afghan-led on building trust and confidence amongst appropriate supportive role in the regional identification of projects, implementation, all regional partners through practical coop- integration process in the context of ownership and management. On its part, eration directed at specific projects that Afghanistan’s reconstruction. India remained fully committed to help could yield positive gains so that all mem- Ultimately, it was India’s belief that all the Afghanistan realise this, through the very bers felt encouraged to take part in different political and developmental valuable JCMB platform. !

h t t p : / / m e a k a b u l . n i c . i n I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 7 3 AFGHAN NEWS “It’s a life time experience for me”— Col. Khurram olonel Shafiullah Khurram of Afghan conditions, economy, science and technolo- National Army (ANA) is a senior offi- gy, international security environment, glob- C cer in the Legal Department of al issues, India’s immediate neighborhood, Afghan Defence Ministry. He is no stranger strategies and structure for national security to foreign countries or their training pro- also form part of NDC course. As part of the grammes offered to the personnel of ANA exposure for the course participants, a for- from different countries. But the experience eign country tour and a visit to SAARC mem- of the prestigious National Defence College ber country are also included in the curricu- (NDC) course left a different and lasting lum. impression on Colonel Khurram, who repre- For the 2006 NDC course, 20 senior army sented Afghanistan in the NDC annual officers from countries such as U.S., U.K., course of 2006. , neighboring and African countries Lt. General Sher Mohd. Karimi, chief of attended. As part of the course, during the operations of , attend- foreign country tour, Colonel Khurram visit- ed the course in 1991. Brigadier General ed U.A.E., U.K. and and visited Amin Wardak, Commandant of Kabul Colonel Khurram shaking hands with Prime during the SAARC tour. Military Training Centre attended the course Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Khurram Recollecting fondly his experience of the in 1992. Colonel Abdul Rahim Hamid of recently atttended the prestigious course at NDC course, Colonel Khurram cherished Afghan National Army is attending the NDC National Defence College in New Delhi. most the moment of his handshake with 2007 course. including from India take part in this course. Prime Minister of India. With a beaming The prestigious course at National The course curriculum at NDC focuses on smile, Colonel Khurram says, “It (the NDC Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, is con- issues relating to national security and strate- course) is a life time experience for me. India ducted from January to December every year. gic studies with multi dimensional approach and Afghanistan always walk hand in hand to A select community of senior defence and towards domestic, regional and international make a new Afghanistan — an Afghanistan civilian officers from different countries developments. Studies of Socio-political of peace, prosperity and plurality.” ! INDIA PARTICIPATES AT THE AFGHANISTAN DEVELOPMENT FORUM Continued from 1 will ensure that the populace of these towns ernment and the other international donors, The other projects include the annual will also be provided electricity, which will was making very concerted efforts in orient- award of 500 long-term scholarships for contribute to their improved standard of liv- ing the next phase of its developmental pro- undergraduate and postgraduate courses in ing. Moreover, this will also ensure greater grams towards human resource development universities throughout India, training of security along the transmission project in all fields. In an important project with the teachers in various provinces, gifting of route. With India’s announcement, an United Nations Development Programme, 20,000 desk-cum-benches for schools in important lacuna in the overall power proj- India would also be bringing in 30 Indian Nangarhar provinces (proposal for another ect has been plugged. Civil Servants to serve as coaches and advi- 30,000 is being considered) and the pro- On the cross-cutting issues of aid effec- sors in various Afghan ministries for capaci- posed deputation of 15 English language tiveness, capacity building and provincial ty development in public administration. teachers to Kabul to impart English language development too, India participated actively India also totally supported the Afghan gov- training to the candidates selected for the in the discussions. Ambassador Sood ernment's focus on South-South Indian scholarships. In the coming future, stressed that the key to the developmental Cooperation as an appropriate and afford- India will be taking up key projects of build- challenge would be capacity and human able strategy towards enhanced national ing of schools and basic health clinics in resource development not only at the nation- capacity. vulnerable border provinces under its Small al, but more so at the provincial and district The Afghanistan Development Forum Development Projects scheme, with focus levels — which would also be a key to the helped to set the stage for meaningful col- on quick impact and delivery. sustainability of all the projects being exe- laboration across multiple sectors between At the Afghanistan Development Forum, cuted in Afghanistan. For this, a multi- the government of Afghanistan and the inter- India made an announcement for the $16 pronged approach was warranted which national community. India welcomed the million funding for the construction of the ensured that skills were transferred to local platform of the Forum as playing an impor- power sub-stations at Doshi and Charikhar with decision making power, that tant catalytical role in initiating and sustain- falling along the Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul employment opportunities existed in areas ing appropriate aid for the betterment of transmission line being undertaken by India where these skills were transferred, that the Afghanistan. It remained committed towards under the North East Power System project. right people were employed in the right jobs, working with the Afghan government and the The construction of the Chimtala sub-sta- at the right levels, that there was some sort international donor community towards tion is already under the original plan and of balance between buying and building bringing about tangible change in the lives of work is progressing satisfactory on this. The capacity. In pursuance of this conviction, the Afghan citizens, measured through con- coverage of the additional two sub-stations India in co-ordination with the Afghan gov- crete development outcome indicators. !

4 I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 7 h t t p : / / m e a k a b u l . n i c . i n HERITAGE RomanceRomance ofof thethe TajTaj liveslives onon

t took 20,000 artisans 17 years to build the magnificent Taj Mahal, Padma Shri, a civilian honour, by the Indian government. Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s ode to love for his wife. More than While the craft itself is centuries old, the techniques and equipment I 350 years later, the exquisite craftsmanship that went into making have modernised and the younger generation is getting involved as the marble mausoleum is being diligently kept alive by thousands of well. Imtiaz Mohammed is 47 and his brothers Chand, Jan and Bobby families in India’s city of the Taj, Agra. are in their 20s. It is hard work, says Imtiaz, where skill upgrade is The secrets of their work have been handed down from generation necessary. Knowledge of geometry, drawing, tracing and exact calcu- to generation, right since the 17th century when Shahjahan built the lations are important. pearly white monument — with its intricate jewelled inlay work, mar- “Now German instruments are being used for accurate measure- ble filigree and calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran — in memo- ments. We are trying to pass on the skills to the younger generation. ry of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The onion domed Taj with its four Above all, our chief requirement as artists is that the city should minarets still invokes a gasp of awe from visitors, as much for the first remain peaceful and calm so that tourists continue to visit and have a look of the imposing structure from afar as for the delicate work seen good time,” he says. up close. It is also good business. An estimated 7,000, mostly Muslim, families spread all over Agra Like for Abhinav Jain, 42, a leading manufacturer and exporter of are engaged in the unique craft of carving on marble. Hundreds of marble products, whose products sell heavily in the West. The ninth marble products get sold all around the Taj every day. Many more are generation member of an Agra family who loves marble as much as he sent out to all parts of India and abroad. While Taj Mahal in countless adores the works of Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky, Jain says it’s a pleasure sizes tops the list of favourites, there are assorted products like boxes to watch his Muslim craftsmen at work. of all shapes, chessboards, penholders, tabletops, coasters, tiles, The products look simple and easy to make. But they are not. vases and wall hangings too. The craft includes shaping and cutting “They involve tremendous concentration, to start with,” points out marble rocks to make the products with floral designs or other pat- Jain. “I am not exaggerating if I say that the kind of work being done terns. It is an art that never ceases to amaze tourists — Indians and in Agra by our artisans is unmatched in the world, in any country. foreigners alike. “It is intricate work. The slicing of marble, the inlay work, the stone Hafiz Ahmed, 72, says he is a descendant from one of the artisans cutting, the correct placement of semi-precious stones, everything who crafted the Taj Mahal. The national award winner has recently demands absolute and total concentration. Nothing should go wrong made a 12-foot model of the Taj, weighing five tonnes and replicating even by a millimetre. And this they do day after day.” the finest details of the original, including the verses of the Quran and “First, they learn the craft in childhood. They work on it. And then the jewelled inlay work. the art form never leaves the households. Mind you, there is no cata- Many of the craftsmen in Agra have been trained under his watch- loguing of the craft. It is passed on from one generation to another, ful eye and graduated from his karkhana or factory. Ahmed, who is through word of mouth,” Jain says. deeply concerned about the use of synthetic marble from which In what is an example of India’s secular traditions, the essentially gives Agra a poor name, says the city is home to 12,000 artisans work- Muslim craftsmen in Agra are also working on chiselling replicas of ing in 500 karkhanas. shivlings, the icon of the Hindu god Shiva, and various gods and god- “Art, the real kind, is becoming extinct,” bemoans the master crafts- desses. man. His colleague and another maestro, Fazal Mohammed, 72, who Working under the shadow of the matchless Taj Mahal, India's best collaborated with two others for three years to make a Taj Mahal repli- tourist draw, these artists are perpetuating the spirit of excellence that ca valued at about $8,000 can only agree. “I am particularly keen that the monument represents. The world may never see another the art traditions of Agra should be kept alive and for this I am willing Shahjahan, but his timeless sense of romance lives on — and Agra’s to teach even my enemies,” says the artist who has been awarded a artists help in giving it concrete shape. ! h t t p : / / m e a k a b u l . n i c . i n I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 7 5 BOLLYWOOD NANA PATEKAR: The versatile actor

ollywood’s versatile actor Nana ‘Parinda’. He was awarded the Filmfare Best Filmfare Award and the Star Screen Awards Patekar has completed 20 years of Supporting Actor Award for the role. He also in the best actor category. B acting and has already proved his won the Filmfare Best Villain Award in 1992 Patekar has experimented with his roles mettle in the film industry. His recent for ‘Angaar’. when it comes to films. He has done the release was Goutam Ghose’s ‘Yatra’, a film His well-acclaimed role in the movie ‘Ab occasional villain role, but has also played a about a creator’s journey. It could be seen as Tak Chappan’ (2005) in which he plays a hero in most of his films. He played a truant, a metaphor of the fairly prolific director’s police officer whose main task is to rid the gambling son in ‘Krantiveer’ (1994), a wife own journey across the oscillating oceans of streets of underworld dons, earned Nana beater in ‘Agnisakshi’ (1996), a deaf and the motion picture. rave reviews. In 1994 he won the National dumb father in ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ “After a long time I’ve done a role I’m Film Award for Best Actor for his perform- (1996) and a schizophrenic in ‘Wajood’ happy about with ‘Yatra’. I loved working with ance in ‘Krantiveer’ (1994). He also won the (1998). Ghose. I worked with Rekha and Ghose for At times during his career, it was noted the first time. For many years I kept abusing that he was an epitome of the “angry young and accusing Ghose of not working with me man” role and that he was well suited for in ‘Antarjali Yatra’,” Nana said. such roles and would carry it on as a fore- “I’ve been wanting to work with him for a runner of Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun very long time. The minute I heard the script Chakraborty. of ‘Yatra’, I told him I wouldn’t charge him a Yet, this versatile actor was also perfect for single penny. I gave him 40-50 days and did- some of the villainous roles that he has done. n’t charge anything.” He also turned director with his movie From ‘Mohre’ (1987) to ‘Yatra’ (2007), ‘Prahaar: The Final Attack’ co-starring Nana Patekar has covered a long journey in Madhuri Dixit. His other films as an actor Bollywood. This versatile actor has carved include ‘Hu Tu Tu’ and ‘Bluff Master’. He his niche in Hindi film industry with his brash once again gave a good performance in his style of delivering dialogues. His way of latest film ‘Apaharan’ and received the speaking reflects his deliverance of the lines. Filmfare Best Villain Award as well as the While he acted in movies such as ‘Mohre’ Star Screen Award Best Villain for his scintil- (1987) and ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1988), his tal- lating performance. ents as an actor was noticed by the main- He is the only actor ever to win Filmfare stream Bollywood industry and audience for Awards in the Best Actor, Best Supporting his portrayal of the villain in the 1989 film, Actor and Best Villain categories. !

6 I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 7 h t t p : / / m e a k a b u l . n i c . i n