preserve the constitutional democratic framework and ensure the protection of rights of women children and minorities he saidthe taliban and the afghan government are holding direct talks to end 19 years of war that has killed tens of thousands of people and ravaged various parts of the countrythe intraafghan began as the us and the taliban signed a landmark deal in doha on february 29 2020 following multiple rounds of negotiations to bring lasting peace in wartorn afghanistan and allow us troops to return home effectively drawing curtains on americas longest warindia has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of afghanistan it has already invested close to usd three billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the countryjaishankar underscored that india continues to stand with afghanistan in ensuring restoration of normalcy through a legitimate democratic process that is essential for the longterm stability of afghanistan and the regionindia will continue to provide all support to the government and people of afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful democratic and prosperous future free of terror so as to protect and promote the rights and interests of all sections of afghan society he saidhe noted that for afghanistans economic development it is also important to have unhindered access to the high seasjaishankar said the international community should work towards the removal of artificial transit barriers imposed on afghanistan and ensure full transit rights guaranteed to afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements without any hindranceindia remains committed to steadfastly supporting afghanistan during its transition our development partnership including more than 550 community development projects covering all 34 provinces is aimed at making afghanistan a selfsustaining nation he saidadditionally india has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of afghanistan for building the shatoot dam which would provide safe drinking water to the residents of kabul city he addedproviding greater regional connectivity india has operationalised air freight corridors and the chabahar port through which india extended humanitarian assistance of 75000 mt of wheat to afghanistan to overcome food insecurity in the country in view of the covid19 pandemic he saidas part of new delhis endeavour to help kabul tide over the covid19 pandemic india has supplied madeinindia vaccines to afghanistan both bilaterally and through the covax facility he said