The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, will visit India from May 20-22. During his three-day visit, he will meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, among other officials.
The two sides are expected to hold discussions on a potential arms deal between the two countries. The Afghan President is also expected to apprise the Indian leadership about the recent developments in Afghanistan including the flare-up on the Durand Line-the colonial-era border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the light of the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2014, Karzai is also expected to request Indian assistance to strengthen Afghan military and security institutions.
India and Afghanistan share strong historic and cultural ties. New Delhi and Kabul signed a ‘strategic partnership’ agreement in 2011, which was aimed at deepening security and economic ties. Some of the Indian developmental projects in Afghanistan include the construction of the road from Zaranj to Delaram in Nimruz Province, the 220 kV electricity transmission line from Pul-e-Kumri to Kabul, capacity building program for about 2000 Afghans, and infrastructure programmes such as the reconstruction of Salma Dam in Herat Province and the construction of the new Parliament complex.