Karzai arrives; to discuss coop against terror from Pak

New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived here Sunday evening on a two-day visit during which the two sides will discuss cooperation in fight against the common threat of terrorism having Pakistani linkages in the backdrop of Mumbai attacks.

Karzai, who on his second visit here in five months,
will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday on
the latest developments related to the Mumbai terror strikes.

He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar
Spanta and National Security Adviser Zalmai Rasoul.

The main purpose of the visit, which was scheduled just
few days after the Mumbai attacks, is to convey Afghanistan's
condolences and solidarity with India in the wake of the
terror strikes.

The Prime Minister is expected to share with Karzai
evidence about involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba and other
Pakistan-based elements in the Mumbai attacks.

The Afghan President will discuss ways to further forge
the existing relations between the two countries, "the latest
situation in the region and fighting against terrorism," a
statement issued by Karzai's office said.

The two leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation to
defeat terrorism, which is posing threat to both the
countries, sources said.

Like India, terrorism in Afghanistan also gets
encouragement and support from Pakistani soil.

Karzai is expected to apprise Singh about the latest in
investigations into last July's attack on Indian embassy in
Kabul.

Afghanistan and India had blamed Pakistan's ISI for
involvement in the suicide attack in which four Indian
nationals, including a Brigadier-rank defence attache and
senior IFS officer, were killed along with 55 locals.


About a month after the Kabul embassy attack, Karzai had
undertaken a visit here and underlined that India and
Afghanistan as also the world at large have "no option but to
be united in the fight against terrorism" as it is "our moral
responsibility as human beings to protect" the people. PTI AKK
AM