Afghan President in India on state visit

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai arrived in India's financial capital Mumbai, Friday on a five-day state visit to India; he is slated to arrive here tomorrow evening. According to his official itinerary, in the Indian capital city Karzai would hold parleys with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on important issues, including bilateral and global significance. A few agreements on safety and security, trade and investment are also likely to be signed during the course of Karzai's meeting with the Indian Premier, said sources in India's Ministry of External Affairs. Besides, he is also scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj. In Mumbai, Karzai would attend a key business meet, Saturday, organized by business organizations, including Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM). The Afghan President is accompanied by a high level ministerial and official delegation from Afghanistan. President Karzai's visit follows Indian Prime Minister's landmark visit to Kabul in May 2011. The visit carries forward the high-level engagement between the two countries. It also provides an opportunity for both countries to review and consolidate their strategic partnership and discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. During his last visit to India, in October 2011, a historic Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed.