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Karzai in India to woo investment in Afghanistan
NIRMALA GEORGE, Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged Indian companies on Monday to
invest in his country, and India's leader said economic development in the war-torn nation would
contribute to stability in the region.
"Investment opportunities are better today in Afghanistan, a country that is more confident of its
future," Karzai told reporters after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Karzai's five-day visit is viewed as a bid to shore up security in the faction-ridden region before
the planned departure of most NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014.
India has invested more than $2 billion in Afghan infrastructure, including highways and
hospitals and rural electricity projects. New Delhi is hoping to gain some influence in the
country after 2014, when Afghan forces become responsible for the entire country's security.
"India has been a generous front-line partner in Afghanistan's rebuilding and reconstruction
efforts," Karzai said.
Singh said his talks with Karzai covered bilateral relations and regional security.
"I reiterated to President Karzai our belief that Afghanistan's regional economic integration will
contribute to the overall prosperity and stability in the region," Singh told reporters.
The two countries signed four agreements, including ones on mining and development of small
enterprises.
Karzai, who arrived in India over the weekend, said one of his priorities during the visit is to
urge Indian companies to invest in his country.
"Indian businessmen need not shy away. The Chinese came five to six years before you and they
have already got two or three major contracts," Karzai told business leaders in Mumbai on
Sunday.
He said Afghanistan would lay out a "red carpet" welcome for Indian businesses. "You should
come in large numbers," Karzai said.
The two leaders also reviewed a strategic partnership agreement that the countries signed last
year, Indian officials said.
India is helping the Afghan government rebuild its police forces, judiciary and diplomatic
services. Small batches of Afghan soldiers are undergoing training at military schools in India.
"India is involved in capacity building in various fields including the security sector," said Yash
Sinha, a top official in the Ministry of External Affairs. He refused to say how many Afghan
soldiers had been trained in India.
India and Afghanistan are careful that their cooperation is not viewed as a threat by Pakistan,
which lies sandwiched between them.
The governments of India and Afghanistan share a distrust of Pakistan. Afghanistan says Pakistan
contributes to Afghan instability by offering a safe haven to Taliban insurgents. India accuses
Pakistan of harboring and nurturing terrorists who have carried out attacks in India.
Karzai, who earned his college degree in India, has visited New Delhi more than a half dozen
times in the past few years, most recently in October 2011.
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