Karzai in India to woo investment in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI (AP) - Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday urged Indian companies to invest in Afghanistan, with India's leader saying economic development in the war-torn country would contribute to stability in the region.

"Investment opportunities are better today in Afghanistan, a country that is more confident of its future," Mr Karzai said at a news conference with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

His five-day visit was also being viewed as a bid to shore up security in the faction-ridden region before the planned departure of most NATO troops in 2014.

India has invested more than US$2 billion (S$2.45 billion) on Afghan infrastructure, including building highways and hospitals, and setting up rural electricity projects. New Delhi is hoping to gain some influence in the country post-2014, when Afghan forces become responsible for the entire country's security.