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Afghan president begins US visit

By Xinhua

Washington : US President George W. Bush welcomed Afghan President Hamid Karzai on his arrival at the presidential retreat of Camp David.

The two leaders are expected to discuss some issues of mutual interest including the war on terror, counter-narcotics operations and the US contribution towards rebuilding post-Taliban Afghanistan.

In addition, the fate of 21 South Korean hostages held by the Taliban is also likely to be high on the agenda during the two-day discussions.

Taliban militants, who abducted 23 South Koreans on July 19, have shot dead two of them so far and vowed to execute the remaining if the Afghan government fails to meet their demands, which includes the release of eight compatriots.

According to media reports, Karzai chatted briefly with a few of Bush’s top aides, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates. Then Bush drove him away in a golf cart Sunday.

Bush and Karzai were expected to have an official meeting Monday morning followed by a joint press conference.

US officials have described the meeting as a private “strategy session” between partners and a chance to reiterate unwavering US support for Karzai’s beleaguered government.

Afghanistan, under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai, is a strong US ally. However, the country has been struggling with a resurgent Taliban and persistent narcotics trade.

More than 2,200 people have been killed in bloody conflicts in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.

At least 600 Afghan civilians have been killed in insurgency-linked violence this year, half of them by international forces, according to statistics by the United Nations.

Last year saw the worst fighting since the Taliban were toppled in 2001 as they regrouped, with the help of safe havens and training grounds across the border in Pakistan and money from drug lords fattened by record opium crops.

It was reported that more than 4,000 people died in fighting last year, a quarter of them civilians.

The Taliban claimed that 2007 would be the bloodiest year for foreign troops yet, saying they have thousands of enthusiastic suicide bombers ready for action.

Prior to his meeting with Bush, Karzai told CNN “the security situation in Afghanistan over the past two years has definitely deteriorated. There is no doubt about that”.

In the hunt for the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the United States and its allies have essentially gotten nowhere lately, Karzai said, noting “We are where we were a few years ago.”

In addition to domestic issues, Bush and Karzai were reportedly to discuss Afghanistan’s relationship with neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. Karzai said the penetration of foreign militants from Pakistan into Afghanistan has become a concern that he will address soon with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

On Iran, Karzai said he is investigating reports that Iran is fuelling violence in Afghanistan by sending in weaponry such as sophisticated roadside bombs.

But he insisted, “Iran has been a supporter of Afghanistan, in the peace process that we have and the fight against terror, and the fight against narcotics.”

Karzai said that Afghanistan and Iran had “very, very good, very, very close relations. … We will continue to have good relations with Iran”.