Wednesday, February 16 2005 13:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kabul: As a war-battered Afghanistan gradually gets back on its feet, India's helping hand is visible in the daily life of its people and the protracted process of reconstruction.

Over two years back when Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked India if it could assist in the rebuilding of his old school, Habibia, he got a spontaneous positive response.

The 1904-built school, severely damaged during the civil war, is being rehabilitated with India's assistance of $ 5.1 million. Ninety-two year old former King Zahir Shah, respected as the Father of the Nation, also studied in this school.

India is supplying furniture as well as equipment for a computer centre and laboratories for the school. The rebuilding work is expected to be completed in the next few months.

"We see India as a special friend, Karzai told External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who was on a brief visit in Kabul yesterday (Feb 15, 2005).

Currently, about 12,000 students are studying in the school in three shifts. A thankful Principal Syed Naser Askarzada is visiting India next month to acquaint himself with the running of educational institutions.

From providing vehicles for civilian and military transport, re-starting the Zaranj-Delaram highway, allowing use of Indian satellites for television and establishing telephone networks, India has played a key role in the protracted process of reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The prevailing sentiments in Afghanistan are one of affection for India, said Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who accompanied the Minister.

Underpinned by a long history of friendship and cultural affinity, relations between India and Afghanistan have attained a new level of intensity and cooperation, a senior Indian Embassy official in Kabul said.

Driving through the heavily guarded and congested Kabul streets, one can see repair work underway in buildings damaged during the civil war.

A total commitment of $ 400 million has been made by India as assistance for Afghanistan's reconstruction over the period 2002-08.

As part of its all-round help, India has decided to fund the construction of a new Parliament building in this country. Indian engineers have carried out preliminary discussions about the layout and design.

Commuting for the Afghan people has been made easy with India providing 400 buses at a cost of $ 13 million.

For the Afghan National Army, India has pledged 300 vehicles of which 285 have been transported here via Iran. These include 4.5 ton and 2.5 ton trucks, jeeps and ambulances. The total cost is about $ 9 million.

During the visit, Singh handed over keys to 50 4.5-ton trucks to the Afghan National Army.

"We are badly in need of assistance in all areas. We are looking for further cooperation from India," Afghan Defence Minister Abdurrahim Wardak told a group of visiting Indian journalists.

Wardak said that though the security situation has considerably improved, there are serious concerns over the possibility of re-grouping of al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Indian doctors are very popular in Kabul and other Afghan cities like Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and Shebargan. One reason for this, explains an official, is that along with paramedics they were the first to be sent to Kabul for providing the "healing touch" in the post-Taliban period.

Natwar Singh handed over the surgical block of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Hospital constructed with Indian assistance, to the Afghan Health Minister Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi during his visit. Every month, about 8,000 patients are treated in the hospital.

"We request India to extend increased technical and financial support for upgrading health services in Afghanistan," he told Singh.

Kabul television uplink and downlink project was constructed under India's assistance programme and made operational ahead of the Presidential elections last October (2004).

Indian films and music have become a big hit among the Afghans, many of who speak in broken Hindi.

Karzai will visit India next week to carry forward the new momentum in bilateral ties.