CM meets Karzai, offers support to Afghanistan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh assured former Afghan President Hamid Karzai of greater strategic support and cooperation for the war-torn nation, an official press release said here today.

Karzai thanked the Chief Minister for inviting him to the Kisan Mela being held at PAU. Afghanistan and Punjab shared close cultural ties and could benefit through mutual cooperation and exchange of technical knowhow in the fields of agriculture and horticulture, he said.

The visiting dignitary called for further cementing the traditional bonds of peace and brotherhood between Afghanistan and India, particularly Punjab. The Chief Minister said since Afghanistan and India shared warm and friendly historical relations, Punjab would be happy to provide all possible assistance in the development of Afghanistan.

Karzai interacted with Afghan students at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, where he was the guest of honour at the Kisan Mela. He thanked the university authorities and the faculty for helping the students.

Later, he paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh honoured him with a replica of the shrine, a shawl and a siropa. Talking to mediapersons, he said the situation was tough for Sikhs in Afghanistan and they had no alternative but to migrate.