India is involved in $750 million worth of reconstruction programmes in Afghanistan and one of single biggest aid is for building the 107-metre high Salma Dam on the Hira Rud river in northwest Afghanistan's Herat province at a cost of about $116 million.

'India helped Afghanistan and Afghans in every time. The Indian government has the main role in construction and rehabilitation of our ravaged country. They have done lots for us even helped us in conducting the historically significant democratic exercise,' he said.

Mohammed Afroz, who was part of the group, said, 'Indian and Afghani friendship is 500 years old. I hope the relationship grows stronger and stronger.'

Irshad Ahmed, who is a Delhi University student and has been here for the last six months, says the peace in 'our country has been elusive but India has given us a hope'.

'Thanks to India for giving us a second home,' he said, adding 'the magnitude of destruction in our country is too large to be reconstructed so soon'.

'It will take time for the permanent peace to return (to Afghanistan),' he said. Karzai, who is seeking re-election, needs to be 'strong to deal with Taliban and yet win hearts of the common people', said Irshad.

Sipping the signature green Afghani tea after the sumptuous non-veg Afghan delicacies, the young Afghanis were also disappointed that nothing was being done for the remote areas in the south and western provinces of Afghanistan, where violence is still raging.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about 8,850 Afghan refugees are living in Delhi.