Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to discuss potential arms deals with Indian officials during a trip to New Delhi this week, officials said, at a time when tensions are running high on Afghanistan’s disputed border with Pakistan.
Kabul’s overtures to New Delhi are likely to rile Islamabad where a new government led by two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to take office soon, promising improved ties withIndia.
Mr Karzai’s spokesperson Aimal Faizi said the Afghan leader would discuss the flare-up on the Durand Line, the colonial-era border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in addition to ways to strengthen Afghan security institutions.
“Afghanistan has already agreed and signed a strategic pact with India and based on that agreement, India assists Afghanistan on several grounds, including the military sector,” Mr Faizi said. “In order to strengthen Afghan security forces, we will ask India to help us with military needs and shortages,” he said.
— PTI
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Border trade to start from June
Pithoragarh (U’khand), May 19: This year’s India-China border trade via the Himalayan Pass of Lipulekh, will start from the first week of June and conclude on October 31, the Pithoragarh district magistrate said on Sunday.
DM C.M.S. Bisht was presiding over a meeting on preparation of the border trade in the district headquarters. A camp of administrative and other officials will be organised from June 3. — PTI