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India-Afghanistan strategic ties set to reach a new height
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| merisarkar news serviceNew Delhi, October 03, 2011 |
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Dr. Singh & Karzai (File Photo)
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Afghanistan and India will give boost to their strategic partnership and take stock of the situation in the region during the visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in New Delhi from tomorrow.
The visit becomes crucial in the backdrop of faltering peace process in the war-torn country due to nexus between Pakistan and Haqqani group.
Karzai will hold comprehensive parleys with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the fragile security situation in his country during the visit which comes just days after the assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president who was heading the Afghan High Peace Council shepherding talks with the Taliban.
"The visit provides an opportunity for both countries to consolidate their strategic partnership and discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest," a release from the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi while noting that it was Karzai's second visit this year.
Singh is also hosting a dinner for the Afghanistan President, who is expected to brief the Prime Minister on his revised strategy for reconciliation with the Taliban in the backdrop of Rabbani's killing.
Afghan officials say they have strong evidence that the assassination of Rabbani was organised by the Taliban leadership based in Quetta, Pakistan, with the help of ISI.
However, Pakistani officials have denied their involvement in Rabbani's killing.
According to diplomatic sources, the Afghan government's assessment is that it is futile to rely on Pakistan as it is hand-in-glove with the Haqqani group, an outfit that is closely allied with the Taliban, and there is need to have deeper ties in key areas with India.
While on the one hand Afghanistan is rethinking its relationship with Pakistan, on the other, Karzai, in a recent statement, said his government will work closely with the US, Europe and India to plan the country's future.
India has already pledged USD two billion for a series of development projects in Afghanistan, including infrastructure.
The two countries are expected to ink a strategic pact to streamline the various assistance programmes of India and institutionalise bilateral security dialogue apart from signing some MoUs in the exploration of mineral resources during Karzai's two-day visit.
Karzai will also deliver a lecture on India-Afghan relations and the situation in the region on Wednesday.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will also call on Karzai during his stay.
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