Karzai, who is on a two-day visit to the country signed three bilateral agreements with the prime minister, which includes India agreeing to train, equip and build capacity for Afghan security forces, including the Army. The deal between the two nations also includes strategic framework on security, trade, education and social ties, preliminary commercial deals on mineral exploration, oil and gas, and enhanced aid.

In a joint press conference, Dr. Singh was quoted saying by NDTV that our cooperation with Afghanistan is an open book and India will stand by Afghanistan as the country prepares for its future after the withdrawal of international forces. This move by the Afghan president will now compel Pakistan, who has constantly been at the receiving end of Afghan ire, to move an inch closer to China although China has been keeping itself at an arms length from Pakistan following international allegations that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) covertly supports the Haqqani Network, which has its base in Pakistan, to carry out attacks against Afghans and Indians.

Karzai had also blamed the Haqqani Network for the assassination of former Afghanistan President and peace maker between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Burhanuddin Rabbani.