Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived here Tuesday morning on the first leg of a three-nation tour of Central Asia which would also take him to Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, IRNA reported. The president is to be officially welcomed later by his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai at the Presidential premises in Kabul. The Iranian president is accompanied by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki; Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani and President's top advisor Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi. During his day-long visit which is taking place at the official invitation of President Karzai, Ahmadinejad will discuss major bilateral, regional and international issues with senior Afghan officials. The two presidents are also expected to sign a comprehensive agreement on bilateral cooperation. Ahmadinejad is the second Iranian President visiting Afghanistan. His predecessor, Mohammad Khatami was the first. He will later on the day leave Kabul for Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan.
