Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan), Aug 11: Reflecting its commitment to help rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan, India today opened its first diplomatic mission here -- the first outside Kabul -- as the two countries vowed to wage a joint battle against terrorism. "Outside Kabul, the first Indian mission- Consulate General of India in Mazar-e-Sharif began functioning from today," external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha told reporters after holding talks with powerful Tajik warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum who controls the northern Balkh province. Official sources said that India would also open its consulate in western Afghan city of Herat by the end of the month.
Accepting a request from Dostum, Sinha announced sending of a team to Mazar-e-Sharif within a month to look into the requirement of artificial limbs. India has already supplied 1,000 'Jaipur foot' for Afghan disabled at Kabul military hospital.
"We will also be sending here more medicines and more doctors," said Sinha who earlier met Herat governor Mohammad Ismail Khan in Herat, 100 kms northwest of Kabul. A team of three Indian doctors are already working in the city hospital.

From Herat, the external affairs minister flew to Mazar-e-Sharif and held talks with Dostum who said that he was thankful to the government and the people of India for their support in fighting al-Qaeda and terrorism in Afghanistan.
Bureau Report