Embassy of India
Kabul, Afghanistan

Ambassador Abdali Presents Credentials to the Indian President

NEW DELHI - Shaida M. Abdali, Ambassador of Afghanistan to India, presented his credentials to Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the President of India, in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

"Our relationship with India is beyond historical; it is 'civilizational' with many dimensions of goodwill toward one another," said Ambassador Abdali. He noted the importance of the Afghanistan-India Strategic Partnership Agreement to peace in Afghanistan and stability in the region, which both nations have striven to promote and maintain, in full partnership with the international community. "During my tenure in India, I look forward to further strengthening relations between our two nations, in accordance with the objectives we set forth in the Agreement,"
added Ambassador Abdali.

The Ambassador conveyed to the President the profound gratitude of the government and people of Afghanistan for India's continued multifaceted assistance to institutionalize peace and democracy in Afghanistan. "Despite its own needs at home, India has generously and consistently contributed to the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan, and we consider this as sharing their own bread with us so we too will stand on our own," remarked Ambassador Abdali.

Ambassador Abdali formerly served as the Deputy National Security Advisor and Special Assistant to the President of Afghanistan. He closely worked with the high ranking civilian and military representatives of many contributing nations and international organizations to help address Afghanistan's security and development needs.