US President Barack Obama is set to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the White House on Friday, for a renewed discussion about a range of issues including continued security transition in the war-torn country.
“Obama looks forward to welcoming the Afghan delegation to Washington, and discussing our continued transition in Afghanistan, and our shared vision of an enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.
US President will host Karzai and his delegation at the White House for bilateral meetings on Friday, January 11, Carney said in a statement.
Leading a high-powered delegation, Karzai arrives in Washington early Wednesday morning (IST) on a three-day official trip, the first by a foreign leader in the New Year.
During his three-day official visit, Karzai among others would meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.
Clinton will host a working dinner for Karzai on Thursday and then would join Obama at the White House on Friday. Karzai is also scheduled to have a public appearance at the Georgetown University on Friday.
He is also expected to visit the Walter Reed Hospital to meet National Directorate of Security chief Asadullah Khalid, who is currently receiving treatment after he was suffering injuries from a Taliban suicide attack on December 6.
Among other Afghan officials accompanying Karzai include Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi, Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, High Peace Council Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani, Security Transition Commission chief Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Chief of Staff to President Abdul Karim Khurram.