New Delhi, April 19: From rebuilding Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's old school Habibia to providing vehicles for civilian and military transport, renovating the Zaranj-Delaram highway to allowing using Indian satellites for TV and establishing phone networks, Indian help is touching the everyday life of the Afghans.

When President Karzai asked India if something could be done about his old school, Habibia, India said yes immediately. Work is now under way in full swing. It is Afghanistan's premier school now with an enrolment of 13,000. Officials say New Delhi's help in rebuilding Afghanistan is "visible” and is being appreciated by the Afghans. The latest document brought out by the external affairs ministry on Indian aid to Afghanistan, reveals that India is going to set up phone services in 11 provincial capitals at a cost of $12.5 million. The projects are to be completed by December 2004. Work is also to begin in four months time on the Zaranj-Delaram highway for which the Indian government has approved $84 million over and above $100 million for upgradation and reconstruction of the highway. The document mentions that 274 buses have been gifted for the public transport system — the most visible manifestation of Indian support. In the past, three airbus aircraft along with essential spares including engines, services including crew support have been provided to Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Further, Indian doctors are very popular in Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan such as Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and Shebargan. The reconstruction of the famous Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul commenced some months ago.

India has decided to gift 300 vehicles to the Afghan National Army. Of these 66 vehicles have been delivered, 49 are in the process of despatch and another 120 vehicles will be delivered between April to July 2004.

India is also training Afghan diplomats, senior government officials, doctors and paramedics, police officers and cadets, judges and lawyers, airline officials and flight engineers, woman entrepreneurs.

India had in January 2002, announced an assistance of $100 million for Afghanistan which touches every aspect of life there; education, health, administration, defence and economy. Of this assistance $31.5 million were utilised during 2002-03 and $53.5 million have been operationalised or committed on specific projects approved and commenced during 2003-2004. Other sectors in which India is extending help to Afghanistan are agriculture, information technology, banking, commerce, urban development and infrastructure development.