Afghan Foreign Minister coming on Tuesday

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The situation in Afghanistan and
India's assistance programme in the war-torn country will be
reviewed when Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul
undertakes a two-day visit here from Tuesday.
Rassoul will meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and hold talks with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on
how the relationship could be pushed, sources said.
The sources said the visit was primarily for
consultations and review of the situation in Afghanistan.
"Review, push and advance of the bilateral relationship
are the key objectives of the visit," a source said.
Rassoul is expected to update the Indian leadership on
the Afghan government's efforts to bring about peace in the
war-torn country, which include the plans for reintegration of
Taliban elements.
The US has announced its plans to start withdrawing its
troops from Afghanistan from July next year but India feels
that international forces should remain in the country for
some more time.
India is also opposed to any reconciliation with Taliban
outfit but does not have any objection to individual elements
returning to the mainstream if they shun their extreme
ideology, commit to obey the Afghan constitution and respect
human rights, including women's rights.
The two sides will also take stock of implementation of
India's assistance programme which is to the tune of USD 1.3
billion.
No new projects are to be announced but India has made it
clear that it is willing to respond to any kind of possible
help that Afghan government may seek.
The sources pointed out that India already has a number
of projects going on. The symbolic among them is construction
of Afghan Parliament building which is to be concluded by
2011-12.
The two sides are also expected to review the security of
Indians in Afghanistan who continue to be targets of
terrorists as they work on developmental projects in that
country. PTI AKK
KAB