AlHijjah 24, 1433, Nov 9, 2012, SPA -- India and Afghanistan are to hold talks on enhancing New Delhi's role in training Afghan security forces and sign four agreements, including one on mining, during President Hamid Karzai's visit to India, beginning Friday, as reported by dpa. Karzai was due to arrive in the financial hub of Mumbai, where he is to meet business leaders and seek greater investment in his country. Talks with Premier Manmohan Singh were slated for Monday in New Delhi. Ahead of the visit, India cleared 100 million dollars in aid for small development projects in Afghanistan, taking its total assistance for the war-torn nation to more than 2 billion dollars. "Four pacts in areas of mines, youth affairs, small development projects and fertilizers will be signed after talks on Monday," said Zalmai Wafamal, spokesman for the Afghan embassy. "Discussions will also be held on increasing numbers of Afghan forces being trained in India," he said, adding that India had committed to strengthening Afghan security under a bilateral strategic partnership announced last year. Media reported that India had agreed to increase its intake of Afghan cadets and officers at military training academies but does not have any plans to send or deploy its troops in Afghanistan. Karzai's four-day visit comes at a crucial time for Afghanistan as foreign troops prepare to withdraw by 2014.
