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Q.2517 Training to Afghan Civil Servants
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2517
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2011
SHRI MOHD. ALI KHAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether India goes ahead with plan to train Afghan civil servants in collaboration with the Afghan Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the aims and objectives of such move; and
(d) the reaction received so far from such decisions?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)
(a) & (b) Government of India, Government of Afghanistan and UNDP office in Afghanistan signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on 'Cooperation in the field of Public Sector Capacity Development in Afghanistan' on March 30, 2010. The training of Afghan civil servants in Indian institutions is an integral part of this Memorandum, and hence training courses for different categories of Afghan civil servants are periodically organised in concerned Indian institutions, in consultation with the Afghan authorities and UNDP.
(c) & (d) The training of Afghan civil servants is meant to strengthen the human and institutional capacities of the Government of Afghanistan, so that it is able to address the governance and development challenges after many years of war and conflict. As per the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between India and Afghanistan in October 2011, India has offered its experience of governance and technical assistance in setting up a permanent, career-based civil service in Afghanistan, suitable for Afghan realities.
The Indian assistance in capacity building of Afghan civil servants has been greatly appreciated not only by the Government of Afghanistan, but also by the international community. The training of Afghan civil servants in India has also helped to strengthen the already friendly relations between the two countries, and earned goodwill for India within Afghanistan.