Sushma Swaraj calls on Afghan President

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani here on Tuesday before the delegation-level talks between both sides.

"Affirming a valued friendship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on President @ashrafghani be4 delegation level talks," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The Afghan President, who is presently in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India, will have bilateral engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today.

The visiting dignitary would call on Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House, which will be followed by delegation-level talks.

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari would call on the Afghan President at 4 p.m.

Later in the evening, the Afghan President would meet President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Afghan President will hold a joint interaction with business leaders from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India before concluding the visit.

India and Afghanistan have a strong relationship based on historical and cultural links. The relationship is not limited to the governments in New Delhi and Kabul, and has its foundations in the historical contacts and exchanges between the people.

In recent past, the relations between India and Afghanistan have been further strengthened by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2011.