KABUL - Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan left Wednesday for a two-day visit to Maldives to attend the 17th SAARC Summit of the Heads of State.
The President is scheduled to deliver a speech in the Summit where he would highlight Afghanistan's vision for expanded political, economic, cultural and social interaction and cooperation in South Asia. Enhanced cooperation on security front among South Asian countries is another important issue to address.

President Karzai, accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr. Rasoul and National Security Advisor Dr. Spanta, is also expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings including with Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and other heads of state and governments on issues of mutual interest in the framework of SAARC.

Established in 1985, the SAARC groups India, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal,Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Afghanistan joined the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 2007. (PR)