Karzai welcomes Hungarian aid as he waits for the big thaw

Hungarian President Janos Ader, second right, looks at guards of honor with Afghan President Hamid Karzai after his arrival at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan (AP)

President Hamid Karzai extended Hungary's President, Janos Ader, a warm welcome yesterday despite the snow storm that was swirling around Kabul. After meeting the Afghan leader, President Ader offered Hungary's co-operation in a number of fields, including exploiting the war-torn country's vast mineral wealth.

President Karzai praised the "valuable" aid to his country and acknowledged Hungary's role in supplying more than 800 troops to the Nato force that has worked to stabilise the country since the fall of the Taliban.