Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Monday said his country had great expectations from India and his visit to New Delhi would add to the bilateral friendship and depth of relationship.

This visit will definitely help bring a better future for the two countries and hopefully the region, he told reporters after being accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Karzai may not visit Shimla

"This

visit to India would add to friendship and depth of relationship between the two countries," he said.

He pointed out that India had been contributing in almost all spheres of Afghanistan, including education, health, rural development, economy and reconstruction, and that he had come to express gratitude to India for its help over the past four years.

Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images