Karzai, Manmohan for `knowledge pool' to curb terrorism in Asia

      New Delhi: Visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said on Monday that both Afghanistan and India were ready to take appropriate measures to curb terrorist threats in the Asian region. Addressing a joint press conference after one-to-one and delegation-level talks, both leaders said that they were in favour of "developing a regional pool of knowledge" to combat the menace of terrorism. Identifying Afghanistan as one of the worst victims of terrorism, Karzai said: "We have enough reasons to join hands with India to fight against terrorism", and commended the support from India for establishing democracy in Afghanistan. "For us, India is an important ally and it has been helping us to establish democracy in Afghanistan", Karzai said. Karzai also thanked India for supporting Afghanistan in its bid to acquire membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Prior to the joint conference, both countries signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Rural Development, Education Exchange Programme and on Standardisation between Bureau of Indian Standards and Afghan National Standardisation Authority. Karzai also called upon Indian companies to invest in Afghanistan particularly in the Information Technology sector.

     Earlier, Karzai, who was accorded a grand ceremonial reception at the presidential palace this morning. "The visit to India will definitely help bring better future for the two countries and hopefully the region," Karzai told the media after the ceremonial reception. Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also call on Karzai during his stay in the capital. During his four-day visit, the Afghan President will also meet other leaders and hold talks on the entire gamut of bilateral relations focusing on development and consolidation of democracy in his country. He is scheduled to visit India for six days. Even his private tour to Shimla on April 13 was called off because of some political engagements back home. As per the schedule, Karzai will visit Hyderabad on April 11 and return home on April 13. At Hyderabad, Karzai will visit the Hi-Tech City, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Limited, National Remote Sensing Agency and a rural development project organised by National Institute of Rural Development. Afghanistan has received hundreds of millions of dollars in development aid from India in the past four years, but its ties with Pakistan have become strained after Karzai asked Islamabad to do more to stop Taliban militants from crossing into Afghanistan. India is now involved in training Afghanistan's police and diplomats, building roads, hospitals and supporting trade and services as Afghanistan tries to rebuild its war-ravaged economy, despite continuing attacks by Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents. Singh visited Afghanistan last August.

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