India will host a conference on Afghanistan in New Delhi on 28th of this month to discuss ways to boost international private sector investment in the war-torn country . Briefing Mediapersons in New Delhi today the External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said all countries who participated in Istanbul conference including Pakistan, have been invited.

Over 50 Afghan firms – with at least 10 of the companies owned by women – whose presence will spur direct business-to-business links between Afghan and international firms. The New Delhi conference then will inform a July 8th government summit in Tokyo that will develop strategies for Afghanistan's economic development.

AIR correspondent reports, the conference being organised post India -US strategic dialogue in Washington on Wednesday were strengthening Afghanistan economy will be one of the key issues of discussion when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds talks with the Indian-delegation led by the External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.

This is probably for the first time post 2001 that India is hosting an international conference, of any kind, on Afghanistan, where the country has quietly invested more than two billion US dollars.

India is helping reconstruct Afghanistan's Parliament building,equip the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital, and train students for different vocations.