January 12, 2009	Monday	Muharram 14, 1430

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Afghan President Hamid Karzai flew to India on Sunday on an official visit that would include talks on the fight against terrorism, officials said.

Mr Karzai would meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Monday and return to the Afghan capital the same day, Indian foreign ministry officials said.

The Afghan leader would also convey a message of “solidarity and condolences of the people of Afghanistan” to the Indian nation in the aftermath of the deadly November attacks in Mumbai, Karzai’s office said in Kabul.

Mr Karzai and Mr Singh would hold talks on “the latest situation in the region, fighting against terrorism and enhanced economic cooperation”, it said in a statement. “The prevailing security scenario is on the agenda for the talks between the leaders,” an Indian official said as Mr Karzai reached India.

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta and National Security Adviser Zalmai Rasoul accompanied Mr Karzai who was received by Indian foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon at a military airport here.

India and Afghanistan enjoy cordial relations.

—AFP