Afghan students celebrate Navroz in Delhi

New Delhi, Mar.20 :Afghan students based in India continue to aspire for a strong developed Afghanistan, even as they celebrate the Persian New Year of Navroz in New Delhi.

The festivities held on the eve of "Navroz" were organised by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Delhi. Afghans from different walks of life living inndia participated in the celebrations that were marked with lively music and scrumptious food.

Afghanistan's Ambassador to India S Makhdoom Raheen described Afghanistan as the world's the youngest democracy and said that India has been helpful in re-building the country.

"Fortunately Indian friends are very helpful, helping Afghanistan to re-build their destroyed country and fortunately the largest democracy of theorld is standing next to and assisting the youngest democracy of the world," he said.

Former Afghanistan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said that terrorism continues to be a threat in Afghanistan and the situation at this time is a mixed one.

"It is for the people of a country to decide about their destiny, about their future, the people have opted for democracy, a moderate Islamic country a system for which people could live together with one another on peace as well as the rest of the region. That's the choice of the people, but at the same time we are all aware that the terrorism is a big threat to our people and has ended the life of the people and have taken some chances, which were there so all together I would say that it's a mix picture at this stage," he said.

Afghan students studying in India, however, said they were hopeful about Afghanistan's emergence as a peaceful, democratic and developed country.

"My dream about Afghanistan is one day I can see my country very much developed like other countries calm, peaceful and everyone would try to be like Afghanistan. That's my dream and that's how every Afghani is trying to do for Afghanistan, specially the new generations who have migrated to India through ICCR scholarships. They are doing their level best and their results are high and I think they are trying to fulfill their dream," said Zamalludin, an Afghan student.

Navroz which is the traditional Iranian new year holiday is widely celebrated in Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, asell as among various other Iranian and Turkic peoples in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and the Balkans.

Navroz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year.

ANI