India assures all assistance to Kabul in achieving its vision of a united, prosperous nation

Highlighting the very close and millennia-old ties with Afghanistan, India has assured all assistance to Kabul in achieving its vision of a strong, independent sovereign, united and prosperous nation.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while welcoming the delegates at the 'Heart of Asia' conference here, said India is happy to host this event in view of a very close, friendly, and millennia-old ties with Afghanistan.

"Today's conference represents the sixth edition of the ministerial meeting of the heart of Asia Istanbul process which began in Istanbul in 2016. It brings together all of us to assist Afghanistan through its multiple transitions. India is particularly happy to host this conference in view of a very close, friendly, and millennia-old ties from with our neighbour Afghanistan," Jaitley said.

"We are ready to do whatever is within our capacity and means to realise the vision of the people and the leadership of Afghanistan, to see a strong, independent sovereign, united and prosperous Afghanistan at the Heart of Asia," he added.

The conference will discuss peace, cooperation and economic development in Afghanistan.

The theme for this year's conference is 'Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity'.

Jaitley will lead the Indian delegation at the ministerial conference in place of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is unwell.

Heart of Asia process was launched in 2011 from Istanbul.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the event in Amritsar. Eleven companies of para military forces and more than five thousand policemen have been deployed in the city to ensure smooth conduct of the conference.

-ANI