BJP President Amit Shah and central ministers on Sunday welcomed the conferment of Afghanistan's highest civilian honour "Amir Amanullah Khan Award" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it was a matter of pride and honour for all Indians.
"Afghanistan bestowing its highest civilian honour Amir Amanullah Khan Award on PM @narendramodi is matter of pride and honour for all Indians," BJP chief tweeted.
"This award is yet another testimony of increasing warmness in India's relations with the world and India's important role in global affairs," he said in another tweet.
President Ashraf Ghani conferred Afghanistan's highest civilian honour on Prime Minister Modi after the inauguration of the landmark Afghan-India Friendship Dam, also called Salma Dam in Herat provibce on Saturday.
"My deepest gratitude to the Government of Afghanistan for conferring the Amir Amanullah Khan Award," Modi wrote on Twitter.
"It is the highest civilian honour bestowed by Afghan government to Afghan nationals as well as foreigners in appreciation of their services. The citation on the reverse of the medal reads: Nishan-e dawlati Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, or State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan," an official release said here.
Previously, the award has been awarded to former US President George W Bush, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and former President of Afghanistan Sibghatullah Mujadidi, the release said.
"I congratulate Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji on being conferred Afghanistan's highest civilian honour, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award," tweeted Health Minister J.P. Nadda.
"Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble PM for being conferred the Amir Amanullah Khan Award by the Govt of Afghanistan," tweeted union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In his tweet, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Conferment of Afghanistan's top civilian honour Amir Amanullah Khan Award to PM @narendramodi reflects emotions of Afghan people towards us."
Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla tweeted: "Congratulations! After the Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour now Afghanistan's 'Amir Amanullah Khan Award' to PM."
--IANS
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