Kabul (NVI): Bilateral ties between India and Afghanistan got a new boost today, as the two sides exchanged the instrument of ratification of mutual Extradition Treaty that facilitates extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from or to the two countries.
The instrument of ratification of Extradition Treaty between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of India, approved and ratified by the relevant authorities of the two governments, were exchanged by the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Idrees Zaman and the Indian Ambassador to Kabul Vinay Kumar.
The said agreement was signed by the authorized representatives of the two countries in New Delhi on September 14, 2019.
The treaty provides a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to the Afghanistan.
Extradition treaties define an offence as an extraditable offence if it is punishable under the laws in both the contracting states by imprisonment for a period of at least one year.
Ambassador @vkumar1969 and Acting Foreign Minister @mfa_afghanistan H.E. Idrees Zaman @IdreesZaman took a step closer to cement bilateral relations by exchanging Instruments of Ratification of #India–#Afghanistan Extradition Treaty today. pic.twitter.com/6FVLICeHS2
— India in Afghanistan (@IndianEmbKabul) November 24, 2019
The development comes close on the heels of India handing over the second pair of Mi-24V helicopters to Afghanistan on on October 15. Ambassador of India to Afghanistan had handed over the second pair of Mi-24V helicopters to Minister of National Defence of Afghanistan Asadullah Khalid at the Kabul Air Force base.
The helicopters were a replacement for the four attack helicopters previously gifted by India to Afghanistan in 2015. The combat performance and offensive firepower that the Mi-24V helicopters provide will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Afghan Air Force in ensuring that the ANDSF maintain an agile and robust Counter Terrorism capability.
