New Delhi : In a bid to boost security and lawful cooperation with Kabul, the Union Cabinet on Monday cleared the Extradition Treaty with Afghanistan for marking and approval. The deferred bargain, which is prone to be the highpoint of President Ashraf Ghani’s visit starting Wednesday, highlighted in the Joint Statement amid his last visit to Delhi in 2015.

“The treaty would give a legitimate structure to looking for extradition of terrorists, economic wrongdoers and other criminals from and to Afghanistan,” an official statement from the government said.

Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retd.) V.K. Singh had announced in the Lok Sabha last year that India and Afghanistan were on track to signing five pacts. However, the failure to conclude the motor vehicles agreement has drawn the attention of the Afghan government, especially Mr. Ghani who has threatened to stop land-based trade between Pakistan and Central Asia if Islamabad continues to prevent Afghanistan from accessing the Indian market. Pakistan’s cooperation is vital because it is the shortest overland route between India and Afghanistan.