MEA asks Afghanistan to give extra security cover to Indians
14 March 2014 12:04 AM GMT
The Ministry of External (MEA) affairs has asked for additional security from Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for Indians working to make the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) as one of the finest health care institute in Kabul.
Sources said, based on few leads similar to car-bombing at the Indian Embassy in 2008-2009 and killing of Indian doctors in Kabul in 2010, the MEA wants security cover for people involved in the IGICH project.
‘We are always committed towards our Afghan friends. We are ready with our plan and funds were also sanctioned. Soon we will be able to help our friends with better medical facilities,’ MEA sources, without quoting the amount sanctioned for project, said.
India, who is one of the largest provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan, have already decided to purchase high-tech machines to cater large number of people who wants better health care facility in Kabul.
In a letter on 4 March, the MEA informed the officials at Indian Embassy in Kabul that they are going for an up-gradation plan of IGICH. It was learnt that they have already decided to install medical equipment, including blood gas and electrolyte, hot air oven, rapid culture system, automated chemistry analyzer, ultrasound machine with color doppler, echo doppler, digital X-ray 300 Ma, digital X-ray processor, bronchoscope, laser therapy, gas manifold system, crash cart fully equipped etc.
Sources said a team of medical experts will visit Kabul to have a ground inspection on making this dream project a major success. When asked whether Lok Sabha election will have any impact in the project, MEA official said, ‘Election is not going to deter the project. We are hopeful that by this year the project will be completed.’
On the context of security, he said, ‘We want security because there are specific threat leads from the terrorists groups in Kabul.’
The ministry is very carefully going through the track records and antecedents of the companies who are willing to provide machineries for IGICH as a security matter. So far, India’s pledge to rebuild Afghanistan has crossed a total of US$2 billion as a part of nation’s foreign commitments.
Sources said, based on few leads similar to car-bombing at the Indian Embassy in 2008-2009 and killing of Indian doctors in Kabul in 2010, the MEA wants security cover for people involved in the IGICH project.
‘We are always committed towards our Afghan friends. We are ready with our plan and funds were also sanctioned. Soon we will be able to help our friends with better medical facilities,’ MEA sources, without quoting the amount sanctioned for project, said.
India, who is one of the largest provider of humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Afghanistan, have already decided to purchase high-tech machines to cater large number of people who wants better health care facility in Kabul.
In a letter on 4 March, the MEA informed the officials at Indian Embassy in Kabul that they are going for an up-gradation plan of IGICH. It was learnt that they have already decided to install medical equipment, including blood gas and electrolyte, hot air oven, rapid culture system, automated chemistry analyzer, ultrasound machine with color doppler, echo doppler, digital X-ray 300 Ma, digital X-ray processor, bronchoscope, laser therapy, gas manifold system, crash cart fully equipped etc.
Sources said a team of medical experts will visit Kabul to have a ground inspection on making this dream project a major success. When asked whether Lok Sabha election will have any impact in the project, MEA official said, ‘Election is not going to deter the project. We are hopeful that by this year the project will be completed.’
On the context of security, he said, ‘We want security because there are specific threat leads from the terrorists groups in Kabul.’
The ministry is very carefully going through the track records and antecedents of the companies who are willing to provide machineries for IGICH as a security matter. So far, India’s pledge to rebuild Afghanistan has crossed a total of US$2 billion as a part of nation’s foreign commitments.
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