Karzai seeks India's help

Karzai seeks India's help

Mr Karzai stressed the importance of Indian aid

The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, has spoken of the close relationship between India and his country.

Mr Karzai, who is in Delhi at the start of an official visit to India, was speaking at ceremonial reception at the presidential palace.

He said India had already given a lot of help to Afghanistan, and could provide yet more.

President Karzai was received by his Indian counterpart, President APJ Abdul Kalam, and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He is holding formal talks with the two men later in the day.

'Historic relations'

President Karzai said India could assist in the fields of education, engineering, technology and reconstruction.

I myself was educated here. So, I'm looking forward to a variety of areas where we can receive help

President Hamid Karzai

Mr Karzai mentioned long-standing links between the two countries, and his own association with India.

"India is a country with which we have historic relations - trade, education; I myself was educated here," he said, "So, I'm looking forward to a variety of areas where we can receive help."

India has already been helping with the reconstruction of Afghanistan's transport system.

Flowing aid

Aid, a key element of the Indian-Afghan relations, is high on the agenda during this visit.

Mr Karzai drew attention to the historic ties that bind the two countries

On Wednesday, India presented another 57 buses to Afghanistan, taking the total of Indian buses given to that country to 192.

On Friday, Delhi will hand over the second of three Airbus airliners to Ariana, the Afghan airlines, at a ceremony Mr Karzai will attend.

On Wednesday, India's junior Foreign Minister Digvijay Singh said India had already spent $31.5m of the $100m Committed by Delhi to Afghan reconstruction.

"The remaining $68.5m will be utilised over the next couple of years," Mr Singh was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.