ISLAMABAD, Dec 25: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday on a two-day state visit. He will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on issues of bilateral interest.

The Foreign Office described President Karzai’s visit as “essentially a goodwill visit and an expression of solidarity with Pakistan.”

The visit is in response to an invitation extended by President Pervez Musharraf during the concluding session of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Grand Jirga.

Mr Karzai will hold formal talks with President Musharraf on Wednesday.

Later, the two heads of states will talk to the press. President Musharraf will also host a state banquet in the honour of his Afghan counterpart.

On Thursday, President Karzai will lay a floral wreath at the Pakistan Monument and plant a sapling at Shakarparian.

He will also hold meetings with Pakistani businessmen and Afghan nationals the same day. Later, the Afghan president will hold talks with Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro, attend a luncheon and will depart for Kabul in the afternoon.—APP