Afghanistan's Karzai set to visit India, Germany - Summary

Wed, 02 Feb 2011

Kabul/New Delhi - Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai is leaving for a two-day visit to India where he is to meet with the prime minister and other senior officials, his spokesman said Wednesday.

"President Karzai's visit is aimed to discuss regional economic capacity development with the Indian authorities," Seyamak Herawi said. "He will also meet with the Indian president and the prime minister."

Karzai is also scheduled to deliver a speech in New Delhi at a conference on sustainable economic, political and social development.

"President Karzai's visit continues the tradition of regular high-level consultations between the two countries, and will contribute to strengthening the friendship and strategic partnership between India and Afghanistan," India's External Affairs Ministry said on the eve of the visit.

India has invested heavily in infrastructure and reconstruction aid, and remains the fifth-largest donor for the war-torn country.

At his meeting with Karzai, Singh is expected to voice India's concerns about the Taliban reintegration process and security measures for Indians working in Afghanistan.

Singh is expected to reiterate India's position that only those Taliban who severed links with terrorism and accepted the Afghan constitution should be included in a power-sharing arrangement.

While India has concerns over what it perceives as Pakistan's attempt to influence the process, Islamabad remains wary of growing Indian influence in Afghanistan and views its aid work as a front for spying and making trouble for Islamabad.

After India, Karzai is to visit Germany for two days to attend the Munich Security Conference, his spokesman said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/365453,india-germany-summary.html.