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| Afghan leader Karzai holds talks with India PM Singh | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai is holding talks with Indian PM Manmohan Singh on the last day of a four-day visit to the country. | |
| Mr Karzai is expected to press for increased Indian investment in Afghanistan. | Mr Karzai is expected to press for increased Indian investment in Afghanistan. |
| The two states signed a strategic partnership last year aimed at deepening security and economic ties. | The two states signed a strategic partnership last year aimed at deepening security and economic ties. |
| India is a major player in Afghanistan and has already pledged $2bn (£1.3bn) in assistance. | India is a major player in Afghanistan and has already pledged $2bn (£1.3bn) in assistance. |
| In June India hosted an international investment conference on Afghanistan, barely a week before another global gathering in Tokyo to pledge aid. | In June India hosted an international investment conference on Afghanistan, barely a week before another global gathering in Tokyo to pledge aid. |
| Correspondents say the two countries are deepening their ties as US and its Nato allies prepare to leave Afghanistan in 2014. | Correspondents say the two countries are deepening their ties as US and its Nato allies prepare to leave Afghanistan in 2014. |
| Mr Karzai met prominent Indian businessmen in the western city of Mumbai on Saturday and promised a "red carpet" welcome for Indian investment. | |
| "Indian businesses need not be shy while thinking about Afghanistan," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | "Indian businesses need not be shy while thinking about Afghanistan," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
| "Chinese businesses were there long before you came, five or six years ago. If you don't arrive on the red carpet, it will get dusty. Therefore, do hurry up in coming and take advantage of the opportunities in Afghanistan." | "Chinese businesses were there long before you came, five or six years ago. If you don't arrive on the red carpet, it will get dusty. Therefore, do hurry up in coming and take advantage of the opportunities in Afghanistan." |
| Mr Karzai is expected to sign fresh mining deals during his visit, and agreements related to youth affairs, development projects and fertiliser trade, reports say. | Mr Karzai is expected to sign fresh mining deals during his visit, and agreements related to youth affairs, development projects and fertiliser trade, reports say. |
| Apart from help in building up Afghan security forces, India has pledged or spent some $2bn worth of aid over the last decade to build roads, power stations and even the Afghan parliament. | Apart from help in building up Afghan security forces, India has pledged or spent some $2bn worth of aid over the last decade to build roads, power stations and even the Afghan parliament. |
| India has been also rewarded with rights to mine Afghanistan prime iron ore reserves - state-owned companies are leading the way so far. | India has been also rewarded with rights to mine Afghanistan prime iron ore reserves - state-owned companies are leading the way so far. |
| Former foreign minister SM Krishna has said Indian business interests need to overcome "the anxiety of withdrawal, uncertainty, instability and foreign interference" to invest in Afghanistan. | Former foreign minister SM Krishna has said Indian business interests need to overcome "the anxiety of withdrawal, uncertainty, instability and foreign interference" to invest in Afghanistan. |