India, Afghanistan enjoy age-old ties: Culture Minister

New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) Highlighting the common values shared by India and Afghanistan, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma on Wednesday said the two countries enjoy age-old cultural and civilisational ties.

"Four Gurudwaras and the two temples in Kabul itself are testament to the tolerant and diverse society of Afghanistan.

"There is deep-rooted linkages in the fields of music, art, architecture, language, and cuisine constitute an important bond of friendship between the people of the two countries," the minister said.

Sharma was speaking at the inaugural event of a three-day India-Afghan Cultural Festival being jointly organised by the Government and Embassy of Afghanistan along with the Government of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Afghanistan's Minister of Culture and Information, M. Rasool Bawari, was also present at the event.

Sharma said while exponents of Afghan classical music such as "Ustad Sarahang were trained in the Patiala Gharana, the popular Indian music of Bollywood resonates in Afghan homes".

"The central Bamyan province of Afghanistan is an epitome of our shared Buddhist heritage. Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore's 'Kabuliwala' has connected Indians with the honest and large-hearted Afghans."

Emphasising the partnership being extended by India to the people of Afghanistan, the minister added that restoration of Afghan cultural heritage and strengthening its cultural institutions has been an important part of "our support in reconstruction of Afghanistan".

"The restoration of Storay palace in Kabul and support to the Afghan National Institute of Music are a few such examples," he noted.

The festival is an unique event and will bring out the commonalities between the two countries through art, handicrafts, dance, music.