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Karzai has 'great expectations' from India(UPI Top Stories Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country has great expectations from India and hoped to strengthen their bilateral friendship during a four-day visit. At a ceremonial reception Sunday at the Indian president's official residence, Karzai said the visit would definitely help bring a better future for the two countries and hopefully the region, the Press Trust of India reported Monday. Asked about his expectations from the visit, Karzai said Afghanistan had always great expectations from India. He pointed out that India has contributed to almost all spheres of Afghan life, including education, health, rural development, economy and reconstruction. Since the fall of Afghanistan's Taliban regime in late 2001, India has contributed $600 million, mostly for the construction of schools, hospitals and infrastructural projects, the BBC reported. Karzai is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday and discuss economic ties and regional security. |