India today handed
over a Airbus A-300 B4 aircraft to Afghan Ariana Airlines in
the presence of the visiting President of Afghanistan Mr. Hamid
Karzai and the Civil Aviation Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.
The Aircraft, earlier a part of Air India fleet, is the third
such aircraft to be given to Afghanistan. This forms a part
of India’s assistance in the reconstruction of the war ravaged
country. Both Mr. Hamid Karzai and Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain
inspected the aircraft which has been fully refurbished.
The Afghan President
expressed satisfaction over India’s continued support in the
reconstruction efforts and hoped that the aircraft will help
the Afghan Ariana Airlines perform better. Shri Hussain emphasised
the traditional friendly relationship between the two countries
dating back to several hundred years and hoped the relationship
to grow in the future.
