3. Indo-Afghanistan relations
Can be traced back to Indus Valley Civilization
 Historic Khyber Pass that connects Afghanistan to Indian subcontinent is a part of Silk Road
 The Republic of India was the only South Asian country to recognize the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s
Relations were diminished during the 1990s Afghan civil war and the Taliban government
India aided the overthrow of the Taliban and became the largest regional provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan.

4. Economic Cooperation:
India is the second largest destination for Afghanistan exports.
Indian companies have invested in its mining sector, agriculture, communications, Information Technology etc.
Afghanistan possess many minerals like gold, iron, copper etc
TAPI (Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan and India): Natural Gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India
Chabahar port 

6. Defense Cooperation:
India provides training to Afghanistan military officers in Indian military academies
In 2014 India signed an agreement with Afghanistan and Russia. According to this agreement Russia will provide all military equipment needed by Afghanistan and India will pay for it
India has directly provided three Russian-made Mi-25 attack helicopters to Afghan Air Force in 2015
Corporation in fighting Terrorism

9. Cultural Relations Sister City relations: Kabul – New Delhi
ICCR Scholarships for Afghan students for education and technical skills.
Technical Capacity building programs
Sister City relations:
Kabul – New Delhi
Kandahar – Mumbai
Ajmer Sharif – Herat
Hyderabad – Jalalabad
Ahmedabad – Asadabad
State of Assam – Province of Helmand
The cities will be connected through tourism, student and Faculty exchange programme.

10. India has also completed many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
 India’s Development Programs in Afghanistan
India continues to assist Afghanistan in its reconstruction program by providing a bilateral assistance of 2 Billion USD.
India has also completed many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
Salma Dam in Herat Province(Salma Dam renamed as friendship dam)
Parliament Building in Kabul
Road project in Nimroz Province
A power project near Kabul
India also has established hospitals and runs midday meal schemes for Afghan school children

11. Regional Balance of Power
India needs Afghanistan to keep Pakistan in check just like China has been using Pakistan against India
When Afghanistan was invaded by US in 2001, its objectives were to oust Taliban and control of natural resources of Afghanistan.
There was an agenda for the US and India to prevent Russian and Chinese hegemony in Central Asia.
Russia maintains Afghanistan as embankment to protect its vulnerable southern border from illegal narcotics and Islamic extremism.
These factors make Afghanistan has become a center of power struggle between super powers

14. Amritsar Declaration: Highlights
State-sponsored terrorism was identified as a key challenge 
Unanimously named Terrorist groups in Pakistan and asked for action.
Members reiterated their belief in principles of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, sovereign equality of nations as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Members expressed their commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Members called up for leveraging the cultural heritage of the region to drive economic and social development.
Members consented on eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade.

15. US new afghan policy
 It is called as South Asia policy, to distinguish it from the Obama administration’s so-called Af-Pak policy
To disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda and its safe havens in Pakistan, and to prevent their return to Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Broader strategy for both counterterrorism and regional security
Military commitment without a deadline in Afghanistan
It puts more pressure on Pakistan
Larger role to be played by India: Afghanistan described India as “Afghanistan’s most reliable regional partner”.