Kazak President lauds India's role in building Afghanistan

Washington Apr 13 (ANI) Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev lauded India's role in building Afghanistan.

During a 45-minute meeting with visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit here on Monday, President Nazarbayev appreciated India's ole in re-construction and economic development of AfghanistanDr. Singh and Nazarbayev also discussed the situation in the region including Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of stability, security and economic development of Afghanistan and also expressed concern at production of narcotics and trafficking of narcotics.

Nazarbayev invited Indian companies to invest in KazakhstanBriefing the media, External Affairs Ministry official spokesman Vishnu Prakash said President Nazarbayev was very appreciative of India's role in development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"President Nazarbayev mentioned to the Prime Minister that they were planning 170 major projects in a variety of sectors to speed up the industrialisation of Kazakhstan and invited Indian companies to participate in those projects," Prakash added.

Naursultan Nazarbayev remarked that once the situation in Afghanistan stabilized, it would pave the way for the construction of a direct road between India and Kazakhstan. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)