Afghan President's co-operation with India infuriates Pakistan

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-presidents-cooperation-with-india-infuriates-pakistan-2366127.html

After signing a strategic partnership with India that infuriated the Pakistani security establishment, Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday tried to soothe his country's relationship with its "twin brother", insisting that Islamabad had a vital role to play in bringing long-term peace to the region.

In a speech in which he outlined his dream of being able to eat breakfast in India, lunch in Pakistan and dinner back home in Afghanistan, Mr Karzai told the region's two nuclear powers that there was a common cause in defeating terrorism.

"Pakistan is our twin brother, India is a great friend," Mr Karzai said in Delhi. "The agreement we signed with our friend will not affect our brother. This strategic partnership ... is not directed against any country. This strategic partnership is to support Afghanistan."

The comments came during a visit in which Mr Karzai and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a new strategic agreement that will see India play a leading role in helping train and equip Afghan security forces, including the police and army.