ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Hamid Karzai, the chairman of new Afghan interim government, on Saturday responded warmly to a letter of felicitations from President Pervez Musharraf, and accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan at an early date.

After an impressive ceremony in Kabul, marking the assumption of office by the interim administration, a Pakistan delegation was received by Mr Karzai.

The delegation, including Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, Education Minister Zubaida Jalal, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Rustum Shah Mohammad, Khadim Hussain Changezi and Additional Secretary Aziz Ahmed Khan, was received with kindness and respect on its arrival at Bagram airport.

The foreign minister also met Vice-Chairman and Finance Minister Hedayat Amin Arsala, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Interior Minister Mohammad Yunus Qanooni and Defence Minister Gen Mohammad Fahim Khan.

In brief conversations, Mr Sattar underlined Pakistan’s desire to maintain friendly relations with Afghanistan. The minister for interim administration reciprocated the goodwill.

Mr Sattar also conveyed to the chairman and ministers Pakistan’s offer to participate in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. The Afghan leaders welcomed the decision.

In their speeches at the ceremony, all Afghan leaders expressed their determination to put an end to strife, bring peace and begin reconstruction and development of the country which, they said, would be a blessing for Afghanistan and its neighbours, specially Pakistan.—APP