"This is a good sign of the traditional bilateral friendship and cooperation," the paper claims. "[Singh] has renewed his determination to further boost this friendship and cooperation." The paper also welcomes the new Indian-Afghanistan strategic partnership agreement and says the Afghan people respect the help that India has provided.

["Hewad" (Country) is a state-funded, Pashtu-language daily that is distributed through the Information and Culture Ministry. It was originally established in 1949.]

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In the same vein, the independent daily "Erada" in a 29 August commentary welcomes Indian assistance toward Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts. "The Indian prime minister's trip to Afghanistan will further strengthen relations between the two countries," "Erada" comments. "It is hoped that the Afghan government will be able to make optimum use of the assistance provided by the Indian government."

["Erada" (Intention) is an independent daily originally launched as a weekly in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2000. It moved to Kabul and subsequently re-launched as a daily at the end of 2002. "Hewad" (Country) is a state-funded, Pashtu-language daily whose origins date back to 1949.]

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An editorial in the independent "Arman-e Melli" on 30 August calls on Pakistan to be more cooperative in order to strengthen regional relations. The commentary argues that the Afghan people appreciate friendly relations between India and Afghanistan; it hints that strong bilateral relations might encourage Pakistan's leadership "to put a halt to their vicious and hostile policies and cultivate amicable relations with Afghanistan."

["Arman-e Melli" (Hope of the Nation) is an independent Dari and Pashtu daily that was founded by the Afghan Interim Authority in 2002.]

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An editorial in the Kandahar-based, Pashtu-language weekly "Tolo-ye Afghanistan" focuses primarily on the current security situation ahead of the elections.

The paper calls on Afghans to lay down any weapons and fully utilize newly established democratic institutions -- including by going to the polls on 18 September to cast votes for their preferred candidates. The paper also stresses the role of local and international media in Afghanistan and the crucial part they play in publishing human rights violations and other irregularities occurring in Afghanistan.

"There is a great difference between the previous government and the one that is in power at present, and this is something that everyone knows," "Tolo-ye Afghanistan" comments.

The weekly appeals to the public, suggesting that Afghans know that "the use of guns means only the destruction of their own home, and [violence] will halt the country's development process."

["Tolo-ye Afghanistan" is a Kabul-based independent weekly.]