M A I N   N E W S

Afghan Minister Abdullah arrives in Capital

New Delhi, December 12
Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Authority, arrived here today for talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on the evolving political and security development in his country and to seek India’s help in the reconstruction programme.

Dr Abdullah Abdullah arrived here in the special aircraft that took an Indian goodwill delegation, headed by Special Envoy on Afghanistan Satish K. Lambah, to Kabul for talks with the Afghan leader.

During his stay here, he will also meet his family members, wife and three children, who are staying here for some time.

Dr Abdullah is the third minister of the Interim Authority to visit India. Interior Minister Younis Qanooni was the first to visit here on December 7, followed by Mr Sadiq, son of Governor of Herat Ismail Khan. UNI

Special envoy leaves for Kabul

New Delhi, December 12
Mr S.K. Lambah, special envoy on Afghanistan, left here today for Kabul on board a special aircraft for discussions with ministers of the proposed Afghan interim authority on the post-conflict situation, official sources said here.

Mr Lambah, who is heading a goodwill delegation, carried some relief material including two tonnes of medicine and equipment, for the administrative functioning of the Indian liaison office in the Afghan capital. He was accompanied by two doctors and three paramedics.

Interior (Home) Minister of the proposed interim Afghan authority Yousuf Qanooni, who was in India, also left by the same flight. Mr Qanooni arrived here on December 7 and met External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani. UNI