Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is willing to allocate a sum of $1 billion (Rs 6,650 crore approximately) for Afghanistan's development when he met President Ashraf Ghani in Delhi on Wednesday, reported ANI. Modi said the money would help Afghanistan improve sectors like health, education and agriculture, among others.

A joint statement issued after the bilateral meeting read, "To this end, the Prime Minister offered that as a close neighbour and friend of Afghanistan and its people, India would allocate a sum of $1 billion." India also proposed to supply medicines to Afghanistan and its cooperation in solar energy, reported The Hindu.

Both Modi and Ghani also decided to implement the trilateral agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran to use Iran's Chahbahar port. The deal on the Chahbahar port, which lies in a free trade zone, was signed in May this year. Modi also took the opportunity to invite Ghani for the inauguration of the Amritsar Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on December 4. Ghani will address Indian industrial leaders and highlight the economic potential of Afghanistan.

The threat of growing militancy was also a key issue discussed in the bilateral meeting. Both leaders agreed to eliminate every sort of assistance to militants, be it sponsorship, safe havens or sanctuaries. The two countries also agreed to encourage more cooperation in the defence sector.