India donated 25 buses to Afghanistan for transportation facilities in the war-ravaged nation. The buses, manufactured by Tata Engineering, were handed over by external affairs minister Jaswant Singh to the visiting Afghan deputy minister for transport Sayed Sadi Mutafakir at a function.

Stating that these buses were representative of the emotions and sentiments binding the two countries, Singh said this is not the end, but a beginning and these buses are a symbolic link between the two countries.

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As these buses ply on the roads of Afghanistan, the Indo-Afghan relations will last forever, he said. The buses would be driven to the Kabul by Afghan drivers covering a distance of about 1,400 kilometres via Wagah and Pakistan.

Stating that India had pledged an assistance of 100 million dollars for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Mutafakir said these buses were part of that assistance.

The 25 buses are part of a total 50 buses costing two million dollars (about rs 9.5 crore). The remaining buses would be delivered to Afghanistan within the next 45 days.
Bureau Report