15 September 2007: Kabul

KABUL, Sept 15 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The first-ever art exhibition of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries was inaugurated here on Saturday.

Twenty-five artists from eight member countries are participating in the art show being held at the Afghan National Gallery.

Abdul Karim Khuram, Minister for Information and Culture, formally opened the exhibition. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the minister said the event would bring member countries closer to each other.

Holding of such shows were the best way of bringing people closer to each other and strengthening relations between countries, he said.

Abdul Fatah Adil, head of the Afghan National Gallery, said the exhibition had been organised by India, one of the founding members of SAARC. He said 28 paintings of 25 artists, including two from Afghanistan, touching different subjects had been put on display in the exhibition, which will last for two weeks.

Addressing the ceremony, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Rakesh Sood said such an exhibition was earlier held in Rajistan state of India. They were planning to organise such shows in other member countries as well.

Source: Pajhwok Afghan News