India, Britain to discuss various issues ahead of Afghan conference

LONDON - Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is currently in London to attend a one-day conference on Afghanistan, has said he is looking forward to the summit and is keen to cement New Delhi’s relationship with the rest of the international community.

Interacting with reporters here before the meeting, Krishna and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said various issues would be discussed during the event.

“A whole lot of bilateral issues would be discussed with S M Krishna before the crucial meeting tomorrow,” Miliband said.

Both leaders said they will address a joint press conference after their meeting later today.

Krishna is also expected to meet his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith at 3.30 p.m. local time.

This meeting has attracted huge media attention due to the relentless racial attacks on Indians in Australia.

The January 28 conference on Afghanistan would see the international community coming together to fully align military and civilian resources behind an Afghan-led political strategy.

The strategy will engage Afghan people in the defence of their country and to divide the insurgency, besides building regional cooperation.

The conference is being co-hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It will be co-chaired by Miliband, outgoing Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Spanta and UN Special Representative to Afghanistan Kai Eide. By Cynthia Chandran(ANI)