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Afghanistan seeks Indian help to
compose anthem

A K Dhar in Kabul

With the erstwhile Taliban regime destroying all musical instruments in the country, the new Afghan interim government has asked India for a set of musical instruments to compose the new national anthem.

The SOS, sent on Monday by the Afghan cultural ministry, said the country had only one recorded cassette of the anthem, which was not in proper format and asked New Delhi to despatch a set of musical instruments.

The instruments asked by Kabul include a set of harmonium, tabla, sarod, sitar, tanpura, surmandal, sarangi, violin, guitar, pakhwaj, piano, flute, banjo drum and a traditional dhol.

Officials said Afghanistan approached India as the two nations had a common heritage.

The new anthem has been played only once, just before the commencement of the swearing in ceremony of the new Afghan government, and the lone cassette was reported to be of a poor quality.

PTI

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