Afghanistan looks forward to further strengthening of ties with India, President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday.

Karzai, who was given a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi at the start of his four-day visit, said, "India has helped us a lot in a variety of areas ranging from education to health to technology. Our relations has been a traditional and historic one."

The Afghan leader, who is on his second visit to India in 13 months, said, "I am very happy being in India as it very close to me."

Karzai had studied in Shimla.

Karzai, who was received by President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vijai Kapoor and senior officials and diplomats, will hold wide-ranging discussions with the Indian leaders.

He will sign a Preferential Trade Agreement and discuss measures to strengthen the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

Asked if there were any specific areas that Afghanistan wanted India to help in, he said, "There are a variety of areas like education, health, science and technology, engineering. You name it."