Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has assured former Afghan President Hamid Karzai of greater strategic support and cooperation for the war-torn nation.The Chief Minister conveyed this to Karzai when the latter called on him at his official residence for a breakfast meeting.Karzai thanked the Chief Minister for inviting him to the Kisan Mela being held at PAU as Chief Guest. Afghanistan and Punjab shared close cultural ties and could benefit through mutual cooperation and exchange of technical knowhow in the fields of Agriculture and Horticulture, he said.The visiting dignitary called for further cementing the traditional bonds of peace and brotherhood between Afghanistan and India, particularly Punjab. The Chief Minister said since Afghanistan and India shared warm and friendly historical relations, Punjab would be happy to provide all possible assistance in the development of Afghanistan.
The Chief Minister, who presented Karzai with a set of books authored by him and a shawl as token of love and affection, also invited him to visit Patiala on his next visit to see the rich heritage of the historic city.The former Afghanistan President was accompanied by ex-Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani, his Education & Cultural Advisor Zalmani Hewadmai and Gautam Sabharwal.Prominent amongst others who were present at the meeting were Cabinet Ministers Brahm Mohindra, Manpreet Singh Badal, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Chairman Punjab State Farmers Commission Ajaiveer Jakhar besides Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) NS Kalsi, ACS Agriculture Viswajeet Khanna and DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta.