Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kabul on Friday on a visit that was not officially announced for security reasons. He is expected to inaugurate the new building of the Afghan Parliament, which was constructed by India at a cost of around $90 million, reported PTI. Modi will also hold talks with Afghan leaders, including President Ashraf Ghani, on key bilateral issues such as security co-operation.

Modi’s stopover in Afghanistan followed a two-day trip to Russia, where the two countries signed 16 deals to expand cooperation in various sectors, including nuclear and defence. The pacts included the joint manufacture of 226 military helicopters and the construction of 12 atomic plants in India. Other sectors like hydrocarbon exploration, railways, solar power, customs, space and easing of travel were also covered.

Modi held annual summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin and underlined the need for the world to unite against terrorism “without distinction and discrimination”. Putin said Russia strongly supported India’s bid for permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council, describing the country as a “great power” carrying out a balanced and responsible foreign policy.