Presidential Palace, Kabul - Following is the statement of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan regarding preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections

Honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Senator Hilary Clinton, Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

Thank you Mr Purie and the ‘India Today’ for inviting me to this year’s Conclave. I also thank the Government of India for the kind hospitality extended during my visit. It is indeed a great pleasure to be back in India, a country where I spent some of my life’s best years as a student. I have very fond memories of Simla, one of the most elegant towns I know. Simla is, by the way, both a city of learning and reflection, as well as a remarkable holiday destination. So, Mr Purie, you will be well advised to consider convening your next Conclave in Simla. Although one could also make do with Delhi.

Kabul – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan would like to announce that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the 3rd annual Afghanistan Development Forum (ADF) from Monday, 4th of April to Wednesday, 6th of April 2005. The Forum will be under the theme of “Accelerating economic development”.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
will leave tomorrow on a 3-day official visit to India.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is saddened by the news of an earthquake early this morning in central Iran that has left many people dead and injured.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - The following statement was issued yesterday on behalf of H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the launch of Afghanistan's First National Human Development Report

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, returned today from his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, My brothers and sisters, Asalaam-u-alaikum

It gives me great pleasure to be back in Saudi Arabia, so soon after my visit last September. I thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the kind hospitality, and the organizers of this conference for bringing us together to discuss a topic of considerable significance to this region, and indeed, the entire Muslim Ummah.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, left today on a visit to Saudi Arabia. The main purpose of his trip is to attend the Jeddah Economic Forum which will take place from 19 to 21 February 2005.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, trongly condemns the terrorist attack yesterday in Beirut, Lebanon, causing the death of at least 14 people, including former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. At least 135 people were hurt in the explosion.

President Karzai Meets with the Visiting Indian Foreign Minister, Hopes India Will Be in Favour of Pipeline Project Going Through Afghanistan Presidential Palace, Kabul: H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, met with H.E. Natwar Singh, the Foreign Minister of India who arrived on an official visit to Kabul today 15 February 2005.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is saddened that a fire in a Tehran mosque resulted in the death of 59 people.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, received a phone call today at 6 p.m. from H.E. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is deeply concerned by the occurrence of deaths, especially among children, caused by cold weather in different provinces of Afghanistan.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said this afternoon that he believed that there were no survivors from the Kam Air Boeing 737 flight, which crashed on Thursday 3 February 2005 in Kabul.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, is deeply saddened by the news confirming the crash of Kam Air Boeing 737 plane that had been missing since Thursday 03 February 2005.

Presidential Palace, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai the President of the islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is requesting the World Bank to contribute to Afghanistan’s counter narcotics drive by helping with provision of alternative livelihoods to the affected communities.

Kabul - The Government of Afghanistan objects to a recent statement in the media attributed to Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, the Chief of United Nations Organisation for Drugs and Crime, proposing international aid to Afghanistan to be conditional upon eliminating poppy cultivation.