Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, returned to Kabul this evening after a two-day visit to the province of Qandahar. During this visit, the President met with government heads and officials of the province of Qandahar and enquired about their services delivered to the people of Qandahar.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the United Nations and the United Kingdom are to co-chair a major international conference in London on 31 January-1 February 2006.

The Conference will:

1. launch a new “Afghanistan Compact,” which will:

Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, called H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, this afternoon and expressed his deepest sorrow and condolences for the unfortunate death of Mr. Maniappan Raman Kutty, the Indian truck driver, who was working on the Zaranj-Dilaram highway.

During the telephone conversation the President said, “This heinous act of terrorism is clearly against the people of Afghanistan and I want to express the anger of my people against this cowardly act. The enemies of Afghanistan do not want our country to have roads and this cruel act is not against India, it is against the reconstruction of Afghanistan.”

“Mr. Knutty, together with many other Indians, was in Afghanistan to complete the construction of a major highway connecting Afghanistan with Iran and the rest of the world. The completion of the highway will increase regional trade and bring economic prosperity to our country.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked the President for his phone call, assured him of India’s continued commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and said, “This act of terrorism will not weaken our determination for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, but will make it stronger.”

The President assured him that Afghanistan will provide the best security to ensure the Indian participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and expressed his deepest sympathies condolences to the family of Mr. Kutty.

Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, expressed his regret at the abduction of an Indian national and three Afghans and strongly condemned it.

According to reports, an Indian engineer from the Border Road Organization (BRO), together with his two bodyguards and one driver, was kidnapped Saturday night by armed men in the southern province of Nimroz.

In his reaction to the news the President said, “The abduction of an Indian national and three Afghans who were working on a highway between Delaram and Zaranj is a disgraceful act of terrorism which can not hinder the people of Afghanistan from reconstructing their country and achieving peace and prosperity.”

The Zaranj-Delaram highway is part of a larger highway connecting Nimroz province with Chah Bahar in Iran and its satisfactory completion will boost regional trade between Afghanistan and our neighbours. Over US$ 70 million has been assisted by the Government of Republic of India for construction of the highway.

The President ordered the relevant authorities to strive to secure the safe release of the kidnapped BRO employees.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, background center, looks on as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, front right, signs the EU-Afghanistan joint declaration, Wednesday Nov. 16, 2005 with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah, left, during the Plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. Others are unidentified. (AP Photo/Gerard Cerles, pool)

H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, who is currently attending an international conference on Islam and Pluralism in Vienna, strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Kabul.

The enemies of peace carried out yesterday’s terrorist attacks on Jalalabad road in Kabul, killing one ISAF soldier and several Afghans, including a woman and a child, and wounding many others.

In his reaction to the news the President said, “These attacks are taking place at a time when heads of states and distinguished personalities of several Islamic countries and those from other religions and cultures have come together in Austria to discuss Islam and pluralism and promote a culture of peace and co-existence in the world. Yesterday’s attacks by the enemies of Afghanistan are against Islam and indicate that killing of Muslims is the terrorists’ main objective.”

The President expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and ordered the relevant authorities to identify the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to justice.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the terrorist attack that took place in Karachi and conveys its heartfelt condolences to the people, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the families of the victims.

H.E Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the brotherly neighboring country.

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan once again reaffirms that terrorism is a common enemy of both countries; therefore, the two neighboring countries should enhance mutual cooperation and increase bilateral efforts in fighting terrorism in the region.

H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, left for Austria this morning to attend an international conference on Islam and Pluralism, which will be hosted by the Government of Austria in the country’s capital, Vienna, from 14 to 15 November 2005.

The President will address the conference, focusing on pluralism in Islam and the experience of Afghanistan.

H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, hailed the inauguration of the Kabul City Center as a great success and said, “It marks a quantum leap forward in Afghanistan’s efforts to encourage private investment in the country and achieve full economic growth.”

H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, through a special presidential order, appointed the period between 19 – 24 November 2005 as Government’s “Accountability Week” and instructed the Government of Afghanistan’s ministries and departments to give a full account of their accomplishments and activities to the public during this period.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the terrorist attacks that took place in Amman and expresses its deepest sorrow and condolences to the people, the Government of Jordan and the families of the victims.

H.E Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, expressed deep grief upon hearing the tragic news and strongly condemned this heinous attack on innocent civilians.

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reaffirms that terrorism is a blind enemy of humanity and civilization that does not recognize any boundary. The world community must stand united to conquer this threat.