India Vows More Aid to Afghanistan

NEW DELHI –

India\'s prime minister promised more aid to Afghanistan and told visiting President Hamid Karzai he would provide scholarships for Afghan students and encourage Indian investment to help rebuild in the war-ravaged country.



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged India\'s help in securing Afghanistan during wide-ranging talks with Karzai, India\'s ministry of external affairs said in a joint statement issued at the end of the talks.



Mr. Singh and Mr. Karzai, who was on a two-day visit, discussed regional security and the threats posed to both countries by a resurgent Taliban and extremist groups based in Pakistan.



Mr. Karzai\'s office said Mr. Singh promised to increase funds for rebuilding, provide more scholarships to study in India and further encourage investment.



The two leaders also discussed ways to stabilize Afghanistan as the date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan draws closer. The U.S. plans to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July with the aim of handing over responsibility for the country\'s security to Afghan forces. NATO aims to pull all its troops out by 2014.



India and Afghanistan have had strong diplomatic and trade ties since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.



New Delhi\'s growing interest in part represents a desire to check Pakistani influence in Afghanistan, with militant groups intent on undermining the Afghan government staging attacks from havens in tribal areas along Pakistan\'s lawless border.



Over the past decade, India has spent more than $1 billion to help rebuild Afghanistan\'s war-damaged infrastructure by building roads, schools, hospitals and dams. India is also involved in training the country\'s police forces, lawmakers and its diplomatic corps.



Mr. Karzai was scheduled to leave later Thursday for Germany to attend the Munich security conference.






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