<p>Soon after his arrival in Kabul for the International Conference on Afghanistan tomorrow, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called on Karzai at his fortified Presidential palace.<br />Krishna reiterated India's support for President Karzai's efforts to bring about peace, stability and development in Afghanistan during the meeting, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told PTI.<br /><br />"The meeting was very useful and cordial," he said, adding that during the 45-minute meeting, the two sides conducted extensive exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common interests.<br /><br />Krishna, who is expected to speak at tomorrow's conference, also conveyed the greetings from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the people of India to Karzai.<br />Earlier, warmly welcoming Krishna to his presidential palace, karzai said: "Warm welcome to you my friend," and also talked about the progress of monsoon in India.<br /><br />The two leaders engaged in animated talks about the monsoon and rainfall in both countries and how it impacted their agricultural growth.<br /><br />Krishna also met Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta and discussed bilateral ties and regional issues of mutual concern.<br /><br />They also talked about tomorrow's international meeting, which will be the the largest gathering of foreign leaders in the war-torn nation since the 1970s.<br /><br />The meeting will take place amid a spurt in suicide bombings and attacks by Taliban on US-led NATO forces, which has suffered the deadliest single month in June when its 79 soldiers died.<br /><br />The conference is a follow-up to a London summit in January, when donors pledged some USD 160 million for Afghanistan's plans to reintegrate and create jobs for Taliban fighters who renounce violence.</p>
<p>Soon after his arrival in Kabul for the International Conference on Afghanistan tomorrow, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna called on Karzai at his fortified Presidential palace.<br />Krishna reiterated India's support for President Karzai's efforts to bring about peace, stability and development in Afghanistan during the meeting, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told PTI.<br /><br />"The meeting was very useful and cordial," he said, adding that during the 45-minute meeting, the two sides conducted extensive exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common interests.<br /><br />Krishna, who is expected to speak at tomorrow's conference, also conveyed the greetings from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the people of India to Karzai.<br />Earlier, warmly welcoming Krishna to his presidential palace, karzai said: "Warm welcome to you my friend," and also talked about the progress of monsoon in India.<br /><br />The two leaders engaged in animated talks about the monsoon and rainfall in both countries and how it impacted their agricultural growth.<br /><br />Krishna also met Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta and discussed bilateral ties and regional issues of mutual concern.<br /><br />They also talked about tomorrow's international meeting, which will be the the largest gathering of foreign leaders in the war-torn nation since the 1970s.<br /><br />The meeting will take place amid a spurt in suicide bombings and attacks by Taliban on US-led NATO forces, which has suffered the deadliest single month in June when its 79 soldiers died.<br /><br />The conference is a follow-up to a London summit in January, when donors pledged some USD 160 million for Afghanistan's plans to reintegrate and create jobs for Taliban fighters who renounce violence.</p>