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Abdullah Abdullah to hold extensive talks with Jaswant

Keen to quickly give clear direction to the future of Indo-Afghan relations, Afghanistan Foreign Minister-designate Abdullah Abdullah will have discussions with Indian leaders on Thursday that will also focus on New Delhi's role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-ravaged country.

Abdullah will have wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on the status of the US-led campaign in Afghanistan, the specific requirements needed immediately by his country in areas like infrastructure development, health and education and in its economic rebuilding.

The Afghan minister is also likely to reassure New Delhi that the new dispensation will not allow terrorism to resurface in the country.

Interestingly, Abdullah flew to Delhi by the special Indian Air Force flight, which left on Wednesday morning for Kabul with an Indian delegation led by government's special envoy on Afghanistan S K Lambah, and relief supplies.

The Delhi-Kabul flight, which was delayed by a few hours this morning due to fog, overflew Pakistan after Islamabad gave its nod on Tuesday night.

On board the flight was Afghan Interior Minister-designate Younous Qanooni who concluded a five-day visit to India.

Lambah is expected to have the first official contact with Hamid Karzai, leader of the interim administration, besides having talks with Abdullah and other leaders.

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