New Delhi: Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai arrives in Delhi on Sunday on a four-day visit to India.
Talks are expected to focus on the resurgence of Taliban terrorism in Afghanistan and the impact this is having on the reconstruction process.
Sources said India is also likely to express concern over the marginalisation of its friends in the Northern Alliance. There are fears over Afghanistan's stability as the US reduces its troop strength in that country.
Although Nato forces are filling the gap, their commitment in the long term is not clear
This will be Karzai's second visit to India as Afghanistan President in just over a year.
The two sides are also likely to sign three pacts, including one on an education exchange programme.
Karzai will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wide range of issues, including bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest. He will also call on President A P J Abdul Kalam.
During the visit, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed. These are MoU on Rural Development, MoU on Education Exchange Programme and MoU on Standardisation between Bureau of Indian Standards and Afghan National Standardisation Authority.
The Afghan President will attend a joint business meeting and inaugurate the first-ever Festival of Afghanistan.
He will also travel to Hyderabad, where he will visit Hi-Tech City, Tata Consultancy Services, National Remote Sensing Agency and a rural development project.
Karzai will be accompanied by about 10 ministers and members of the Afghan National Assembly.
He last visited India as Afghan President in February last year, before which he came here in March 2003 as President of Transnational Islamic State of Afghanistan and in February 2002 as Chairman of Interim Administration.
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