President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai Visited India and discussed on various Issues

Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan paid a state visit to India from 9 November to 13 November 2012 following the invitation of the President of the Republic of India Pranab Mukherjee. On his visit to India he was accompanied by a high-level delegation to India. The Afghani President held delegate level bilateral discussions on various regional and international issues that are relevant for both the nations with the Prime Minister of India.

During his India Visit the Afghanistan’s President attended a business meet at Mumbai on 10 November 2012 participated by the business leaders of India. On 12 November 2012, he delivered a Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial lecture that was organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi.

The geographical conditions of both the countries make them natural strategic partners of each other to create a common platform for the virtue of peace and cooperation in all fields. The good relations started between the two nations after the two signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in October 2011 for creation of strong ties between both the nations.

About President Hamid Karzai

Hamid Karzai was elected as the 12th President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 7 December 2004 after playing a dominant role as a political figure after Taliban regime came to an end in the year 2001 in the nation. He was re-elected to the chair of the President in the elections of 2009. Karzai as a dominant political figure from Afghanistan was elected as a chairperson of the Interim Administration for a term of six months, during International Conference on Afghanistan in Germany in December 2012.

Awards

Hamid Karzai as a recognized leader has received several awards and recognitions from different educational institutions and governments of different countries. Some of the awards and honours received by him include:

•    On 29 January 2002 he received a commemorative medallion of the 11 September 2001 attacks presented by a member of the house Jack Kingston, an honour to him from the United States House of Representatives
•    He was created an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2003
•    On 7 March 2003 he received an honorary doctorate in literature from Himachal Pradesh University in India
•    He was awarded with the Philadelphia Liberty Medal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 4 July 2004
•    Center for Afghan Studies, University of Nebraska — Omaha conferred him with an honorary degree on 25 May 2005
•    Boston University conferred him with the honorary Doctor of Laws Degree on 22 May 2005
•    On 25 September 2006, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Georgetown University