Afghanistan has appointed a new envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay who has called India a "generous neighbour" who has "stood with us in difficult times and have shared their bread with us."

Farid who was earlier in Senior Political Advisor at the Afghan National Security Council tweeted on his appointment,"I am honoured &amp; humbled to have been designated as the new Afghan ambassador to India, a traditional and historic friend of Afghanistan."

Calling India a "strategic partner with strong historical, political &amp; cultural links", he said he would "further strengthen our ties at all levels for a peaceful &amp; prosperous Afghanistan and India."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talibans-defeat-mothers-name-to-be-added-in-afghanistans-nation-id-cards-325059">Also read|&nbsp;Taliban's defeat: Mother's name to be added in Afghanistan's nation ID cards</a>

India has been the biggest development partner of Afghanistan in the region and has built mega infrastructure projects like India Afghan friendship dam and Afghan Parliament.

He also tweeted in Hindi, "मैं हमारी दोस्ती को हमेशा के लिए निभाने की कामना करता हूं" (I hope our friendship will grow and blossom)&nbsp;

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3/3 - / <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_afghanistan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mfa_afghanistan</a> in the World’s largest democracy. 
 
I also thank <a href="https://twitter.com/ARG_AFG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARG_AFG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MHaneefAtmar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MHaneefAtmar</a> for their trust and confidence. 
 
मैं हमारी दोस्ती को हमेशा के लिए निभाने की कामना करता हूं
— Farid Mamundzay (@FMamundzay) <a href="https://twitter.com/FMamundzay/status/1301796280310607872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Farid was also Deputy Director General at the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) which is an Afghan government agency for all local administrations in the country.

His appointment comes even as intra Afghan talks between the Afghan government and Taliban are expected to begin.

The Chargé d'Affaires at the Afghan mission in Delhi, Tahir Qadiry, welcomed the appointment of new Afghan envoy and said, "As a CDA here for over 1 year, I realized the indispensability &amp; vitality of Indo-Afghan ties &amp; this decision will only bolster our Mission to further strengthen our bilateral ties".

Meanwhile, under the Air Bubble Agreement between the two countries, Air India and Ariana will resume their operations between Delhi-Kabul in the near future. Air transport across the world had come to a halt due to COVID crisis, and India is now in talks for air transport bubbles with many countries so that international cross border movement begins.

Afghanistan has appointed a new envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay who has called India a "generous neighbour" who has "stood with us in difficult times and have shared their bread with us.

Afghanistan has appointed a new envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay who has called India a "generous neighbour" who has "stood with us in difficult times and have shared their bread with us." Farid who was earlier in Senior Political Advisor at the Afghan National Security Council tweeted on his appointment,"I am honoured & humbled to have been designated as the new Afghan ambassador to India, a traditional and historic friend of Afghanistan." Calling India a "strategic partner with strong historical, political & cultural links", he said he would "further strengthen our ties at all levels for a peaceful & prosperous Afghanistan and India." Also read| Taliban's defeat: Mother's name to be added in Afghanistan's nation ID cards India has been the biggest development partner of Afghanistan in the region and has built mega infrastructure projects like India Afghan friendship dam and Afghan Parliament. He also tweeted in Hindi, "मैं हमारी दोस्ती को हमेशा के लिए निभाने की कामना करता हूं" (I hope our friendship will grow and blossom) 3/3 - / @mfa_afghanistan in the World’s largest democracy. I also thank @ARG_AFG, @MHaneefAtmar for their trust and confidence. मैं हमारी दोस्ती को हमेशा के लिए निभाने की कामना करता हूं — Farid Mamundzay (@FMamundzay) September 4, 2020 × Farid was also Deputy Director General at the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) which is an Afghan government agency for all local administrations in the country. His appointment comes even as intra Afghan talks between the Afghan government and Taliban are expected to begin. The Chargé d'Affaires at the Afghan mission in Delhi, Tahir Qadiry, welcomed the appointment of new Afghan envoy and said, "As a CDA here for over 1 year, I realized the indispensability & vitality of Indo-Afghan ties & this decision will only bolster our Mission to further strengthen our bilateral ties". Meanwhile, under the Air Bubble Agreement between the two countries, Air India and Ariana will resume their operations between Delhi-Kabul in the near future. Air transport across the world had come to a halt due to COVID crisis, and India is now in talks for air transport bubbles with many countries so that international cross border movement begins.

New Afghan envoy to India calls India a 'generous neighbour'; tweets in Hindi

Afghanistan's parliament descended into chaos on Sunday when lawmakers brawled over the appointment of a new speaker, an inauspicious start to the assembly which was sitting for the first time since chaotic elections last year.

Results of last October's parliamentary election were only finalised earlier this month after repeated technical and organisational problems and widespread accusations of fraud.

Sunday's incident underscored the turmoil in Afghan politics ahead of presidential elections that are taking place in the shadow of talks between US diplomats and the Taliban about a possible settlement of an 18-year conflict.

On Saturday, Mir Rahman Rahmani, a top businessman, ran for the speakership of the 247-seat house but fell short of a majority by a single vote, triggering a clash between supporters, who declared him the winner, and opponents, who said he had not secured the necessary 124 votes.

"We will never accept the new speaker and there must be re-election with new candidates," said Mariam Sama, a lawmaker from Kabul.

Video footage widely shared on social media showed a brawl among lawmakers, with members of parliament seen blocking the speaker's seat and calling for a re-run of the vote.

Rahmani is the father of Ajmal Rahmani, a rich businessman popularly known as "Armoured Ajmal" after his business selling bulletproof vehicles to the Kabul elite.

"He has secured a majority of the votes and one vote is not an issue, so he is our new chairman," said Nahid Farid, a lawmaker from Herat who supports Rahmani.

The repeatedly delayed parliamentary vote on October&nbsp;20 was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, vote rigging, inaccurate voter lists and technical problems with biometric verification equipment.

Afghanistan's parliament descended into chaos on Sunday when lawmakers brawled over the appointment of a new speaker, an inauspicious start to the assembly which was sitting for the first time since chaotic elections last year.

Afghanistan's parliament descended into chaos on Sunday when lawmakers brawled over the appointment of a new speaker, an inauspicious start to the assembly which was sitting for the first time since chaotic elections last year. Results of last October's parliamentary election were only finalised earlier this month after repeated technical and organisational problems and widespread accusations of fraud. Sunday's incident underscored the turmoil in Afghan politics ahead of presidential elections that are taking place in the shadow of talks between US diplomats and the Taliban about a possible settlement of an 18-year conflict. On Saturday, Mir Rahman Rahmani, a top businessman, ran for the speakership of the 247-seat house but fell short of a majority by a single vote, triggering a clash between supporters, who declared him the winner, and opponents, who said he had not secured the necessary 124 votes. "We will never accept the new speaker and there must be re-election with new candidates," said Mariam Sama, a lawmaker from Kabul. Video footage widely shared on social media showed a brawl among lawmakers, with members of parliament seen blocking the speaker's seat and calling for a re-run of the vote. Rahmani is the father of Ajmal Rahmani, a rich businessman popularly known as "Armoured Ajmal" after his business selling bulletproof vehicles to the Kabul elite. "He has secured a majority of the votes and one vote is not an issue, so he is our new chairman," said Nahid Farid, a lawmaker from Herat who supports Rahmani. The repeatedly delayed parliamentary vote on October 20 was marred by widespread allegations of fraud, vote rigging, inaccurate voter lists and technical problems with biometric verification equipment.

First session of Afghan parliament ends in brawl over new speaker

Narender Singh Khalsa, the son of slain Sikh leader Avtar Singh, has secured a seat in the Lower House of the Parliament (Wolesi Jirga), according to Afghanistan Election Commission's preliminary results.

Narender has secured the seat on behalf of the Sikh and Hindu community of the country, as per a statement released by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan(IEC).

The parliamentary elections were held on October 20 last year. The final results are yet to be announced.

Besides Narender, eight individuals including Alhaj Asadullah Shahbaz, Mohammad Azim Mohsin, Atiqullah Ramin, Alhaj Mamor Ahmadzai, Dr. Mohammad Nasim Mudabir, Alhaj Ustad Abdul Razaq Hashim, Shukria Eisa Khel, and Nooria Hamidi have secured seats in the Lower House of the Parliament, reported Khaama Press.

Avtar, who was the lone Sikh candidate for the Wolesi Jirga elections, was killed in an ISIS attack in Jalalabad in July last year.

He was amongst the 19 people who had lost their lives in the suicide blast.

Narender had also suffered injuries in the attack but later recovered and contested the parliamentary elections in place of his deceased father.

Narender has secured the seat on behalf of the Sikh and Hindu community of the country, as per a statement released by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan(IEC).

Narender Singh Khalsa, the son of slain Sikh leader Avtar Singh, has secured a seat in the Lower House of the Parliament (Wolesi Jirga), according to Afghanistan Election Commission's preliminary results. Narender has secured the seat on behalf of the Sikh and Hindu community of the country, as per a statement released by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan(IEC). The parliamentary elections were held on October 20 last year. The final results are yet to be announced. Besides Narender, eight individuals including Alhaj Asadullah Shahbaz, Mohammad Azim Mohsin, Atiqullah Ramin, Alhaj Mamor Ahmadzai, Dr. Mohammad Nasim Mudabir, Alhaj Ustad Abdul Razaq Hashim, Shukria Eisa Khel, and Nooria Hamidi have secured seats in the Lower House of the Parliament, reported Khaama Press. Avtar, who was the lone Sikh candidate for the Wolesi Jirga elections, was killed in an ISIS attack in Jalalabad in July last year. He was amongst the 19 people who had lost their lives in the suicide blast. Narender had also suffered injuries in the attack but later recovered and contested the parliamentary elections in place of his deceased father.

Afghanistan: Slain Sikh leader's son leading in preliminary poll results