By Devirupa Mitra, IANS,
Kabul : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here Thursday on a two-day visit to Afghanistan. This is the first trip to Kabul by an Indian prime minister in six years and comes close on the heels of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s killing.The prime minister, accompanied by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Special Envoy on Afghanistan S.K. Lamba and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, reached the Kabul airport at 11.30 a.m.
He was received by the Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasoul, Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and Kabul Mayor Mohammad Yunus Nawandish.
From the airport Manmohan Singh went straight to the presidential palace in a chopper where there was a ceremonial welcome reception. He will have talks later Thursday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who will host a banquet for the Indian leader.
Manmohan Singh is to address the joint session of Afghan parliament Friday.
The visit will be closely watched as it comes just 11 days after Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was shot dead by US commandos in Pakistan.
In his departure statement, Manmohan Singh said that during his talks with Karzai, both leaders will “exchange views on developments in the region and our common fight against the scourge of terrorism”.
He asserted that India will remain “a steadfast partner” of Afghanistan in providing development assistance and capacity building.
“If our region has to prosper and move ahead, Afghanistan must succeed in rebuilding itself. Its people have suffered far too long. India’s commitment to assisting the people of Afghanistan is enduring and has weathered many storms,” he said.
India is the sixth largest donor to Afghanistan. Its annual development assistance amounts to $1.5 billion.