Karzai to arrive today on a state visit to India

New Delhi, Aug 3 : On his way back from the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai is arriving here tonight on a two-day state visit to India.

He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday morning.

President Karzai will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh around noon. Cooperation between the two countries and security related issued are expected to dominate the talks.

Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the leader of Opposition L.K Advani will call on the visiting dignitary.

President Pratibha Patil will host a banquet in his honour.

Karzai's visit to Delhi in less than a month after the July 7 bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul assumes significance as Karzai had gone public saying that the terrorist act was the handiwork of those who were opposed to a strong India-Afghanistan relationship.

ANI