Wednesday, February 23 2005 15:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in New Delhi today (Feb 23, 2005) on a three-day 'working' visit for talks with Indian leaders to further bolster bilateral ties in diversified areas.

Karzai, who is leading a high-level delegation including eight Cabinet Ministers, was warmly received at Delhi airport by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

The visit takes place close on the heels of the trip to Kabul by External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh last week when India pledged continued assistance to that nation in its rebuilding process, including that of its Army, and offered to train its doctors and paramedics.

Officials said that Karzai's visit, the first to India after the Presidential elections in the war-ravaged country, was part of ongoing high-level exchanges aimed at carrying forward the new dimension in bilateral relations.

President A P J Abdul Kalam will host a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Karzai will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will host a lunch for the Afghan President tomorrow (Feb 24, 2005).

External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel will be among the Ministers to call on Karzai.

The Afghan delegation includes the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Ministers for Foreign, Finance, Commerce, Energy, Information, Culture and Sports. They will have multi-faceted discussions with their counterparts in Delhi.

The two sides are expected to sign a number of accords in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Afghan President, the officials said.

Developments in the region covering Indo-Pak relations, the Iraq situation and other issues of mutual interest are expected to figure during the parleys.

Karzai is also expected to convey Kabul's interest in forging stronger Defence cooperation with New Delhi.

Karzai will have interaction with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and address the 'India Today' conclave on Friday (Feb 25, 2005).

During his visit, Natwar Singh had reaffirmed India's continued assistance to Afghanistan in diversified areas such as infrastructure development, health services, IT, communications and education.

Singh gifted 49 vehicles to the Afghan National Army (ANA) and announced that India would supply 5000 metres of summer-combat uniform cloth to it. The vehicles were part of the consignment of 300 vehicles India had agreed to provide to ANA.