Pranab assures Karzai of help in Afghanistan's development

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee assured his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai that India remains committed to the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan, the president's office said Wednesday.

Mukherjee Tuesday met Karzai, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

According to a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan, Karzai described the relation between the two countries as "strong" and "deep".

Mukherjee told Rajapaksa that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka should be "utilised to create a lasting political settlement" within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

In his meeting with Sharif, Mukherjee reiterated that it has always been India's desire to build peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties and this will continue to be the policy of the new government.

Sharif said he considered it a personal privilege to be in India.

All the eight leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi May 26.