NEWS

Afghan President Karzai may not visit Shimla

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
April 08, 2006 21:30 IST

Afghan President Hamid Karzai who was supposed to visit Shimla on April 13 to visit Himachal University where he once studied may not be able to do so.

According to Navtej Sarna, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the visit was part of the developing programme but it had not been firmed up and the visiting president would have a tight schedule during his forthcoming visit to India and hence, may be forced to skip the Shimla part of it.

When contacted on phone, Vir Bhadra Singh, Himachal Pradesh chief minister, told rediff.com that he had no intimation of the presidential visit.

"We have not got any confirmation from the MEA or the Afghan government," he said.

He, however, confirmed that there were news reports in the media about Karzai's visit to Shimla on April 13.

Vice Chancellor of Himachal University L R Verma told rediff.com that thay have received confirmation of the visit of President Karzai.

"President Karzai will board an aircraft from Chandigarh to Shimla on April 13 at 10 am and he will land about half an hour later at Shimla airstrip. From there he will go straight to the university," he said.

He however said there could be a change at the eleventh hour and that they have to be prepared for it.

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

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