India–Sudan relations (; ), also called Indian-Sudanese relations or Indo-Sudanese relations, refers to the international relations that exists between India and Sudan. History Relations between India and Sudan date back to ancient times. Evidence indicated that there were contacts and possibly trade between Nilotic and Indus Valley Civilizations via Mesopotamia. Evidence suggests that trade between Indian and Nubian kingdoms of Sudan via the Red Sea increased towards the end of the 12th century. Sennar, the capital of the Funj Sultanate, had an extensive silk, silver ornaments, leather and gold trade with India through Sawakin Port by 1699. Two steel suspension rail bridges in Khartoum and Atbara were imported from India in the 1900s. These bridges are still in use today. Since 1900, Indian experts have been involved in the development of Sudan's forestry sector. Mahatma Gandhi visited the Port Sudan in 1935, on his way to England, and met with the members of the Indian diaspora in Sudan. Jawaharlal Nehru also stopped over in Port Sudan in 1938 on his way to the United Kingdom. Nehru visited the Chhotalal Samji Virani. The Graduates General Congress of Sudan, established in 1938, was greatly inspired by the Indian National Congress. The British Indian Army and Sudanese soldiers fought together in Eritrea in 1941. They secured victory in the decisive Battle of Keren, for which the Bengal Sappers were awarded the Victoria Cross for clearing mines in Metemma. India's Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen oversaw the first Sudanese parliamentary elections in 1953. The Sudanese Election Commission, established in 1957, drew inspiration from the Indian election laws and practices. India provided financial support to the Sudanization Committee established in February 1954, which was tasked with replacing British staff in the Sudanese government, post-independence. India opened its embassy in Khartoum in March 1955. Sudan's interim Prime Minister, Ismail al-Azhari, accompanied by several Ministers, visited New Delhi in April 1955 on their way to the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. At Bandung, the country did not have a flag to represent it. Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was also present at the Conference, wrote "Sudan" on his handkerchief and this was used to represent Sudan at Bandung. The Sudan Block at India's National Defence Academy was partially funded by the Government of Sudan. The Sudanese contributed 100,000 pounds towards the construction of the Block, in recognition of the sacrifices of Indian troops in the liberation of