India, Afghanistan to boost strategic partnership during Karzai's visit

India and Afghanitan will give boost to their strategic partnership and take stock of the situation in the region during the visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai here from tomorrow. 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 here 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. 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.