Terror talks: PM given ceremonial reception in 'second home' Afghanistan

[1]

'Welcome to your second home,' is how President Hamid Karzai received Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today, with the latter responding by assuring the Afghan leader that India will stand with the country in 'thick and thin'.

Singh, who arrived earlier on a two-day visit to the Afghan capital, was given a ceremonial reception by the Afghan Police, the Army and the Air Force in the grand presidential palace, 'The Arg'. He is the first head of state for whom the doors of the palace have been thrown open, in six years.

"This is a tremendous honour for the Afghan people to welcome His Excellency Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, to second home Afghanistan," said Karzai, welcoming Singh.

The Prime Minister, in turn, described India and Afghanistan as 'partners in progress'.

"It is always a great honour and privilege to visit you. That you have invited me to visit is an honour to entire people of India.

"India and Afghanistan are partners in progress and we will stand by you through thick and thin, and we reaffirm our solidarity with the people and government of Afghanistan," he told the Afghan president at the reception at the palace.

President Karzai has visited India 10 times since 2002, and was educated for a time in the Indian hill station of Shimla. Singh last visited Afghanistan in 2005.

PM Singh was accompanied by National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Prime Minister's special envoy to Afghanistan Satinder Lamba and other senior officials.

Singh will hold bilateral talks with Karzai during which he will discuss terrorism, regional development and ways to step up India's assistance to the war-torn country.

The visit is also in the shadow of Osama Bin Laden's death. According to reports, any rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, following Osama's death, could cause India concern as it fears the country could become dominated by a Taliban-influenced government, friendly towards Pakistan.

Singh said that he and Karzai would 'exchange views on developments in the region and our common fight against the scourge of terrorism'.

After more than two decades of no presence in Kabul, India has swiftly established diplomatic ties with the new government after the 2001 US-led invasion deposed the extremist Taliban. The country has also committed 1.3 billion dollars to Afghanistan for projects ranging from new roads and electricity lines to constructing a new parliament.

Analysts say India's tussle with Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan could sharpen as the United States begins cutting troop numbers from July with the aim of all foreign forces exiting the country by the end of 2014.

Both India and Afghanistan have troubled relationships with Pakistan, accusing it of supporting and sheltering militant leaders who orchestrate attacks in the region.