New Delhi: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is in Washington, has deferred his three-day visit to India starting on February 28 as his plane could not take off due to heavy snow and inclement weather there.

His visit is being rescheduled, official sources said.

Karzai, who was to arrive on February 28 night on his second visit to India within a year, was slated to hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on March 1 on the entire gamut of bilateral relations with focus on India's major role in the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the war- ravaged country.

The two sides were also expected to finalise a preferential trade agreement.

Since his visit in February last year, there has been intensive bilateral cooperation and political discussions encompassing many areas.

PTI