Manmohan Singh to visit Afghanistan next month

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to undertake a visit to Afghanistan next month during which he will make some announcements to reflect India's continued commitment of developmental support to the war-torn nation.

Singh is expected to undertake the visit in the early part of May, which will be the second since 2005.

The prime minister will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai that are expected to cover bilateral relations, India's assistance programme and regional problems like terrorism.

Sources said some announcements are likely to be made during the visit that will demonstrate India's continued commitment to support in the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

These could include infrastructure and social projects.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of Karzai, who has been here a number of times, the latest being in February this year.

India has been maintaining that it supports a stable and peaceful Afghanistan which is backed by the Afghans themselves, including reintegration of Taliban elements who give up the path of violence and abide by the Constitution.

Later in May, Singh will also travel to Ethiopia to attend the India-Africa Forum Summit and Tanzania for a bilateral visit.