New Delhi: Strengthening its engagement with Afghanistan, India on December 16 opened consulates in Kandahar, a former stronghold of ousted Taleban, and Jalalabad, taking such offices to four besides its Embassy in Kabul.

"The two consulates have started functioning from today," an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

On August 11, 2002, two Indian consulates in Heart and Mazar-e-Sharif had become functional during the visit of External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha to Afghanistan.

After the interim administration took over, New Delhi opened a liaison office in Kabul on November 21 2001, which was converted into its Embassy on December 22 when Hamid Karzai assumed office as head of the new administration.

Replying to questions on the two new consulates, the spokesman said they would have a normal pattern of staffing with a consul general as their head.

Asked if the Indians were facing any security-related problems in the war-ravaged country, he said they have to adjust themselves to the political and economic situation in Afghanistan.

PTI