Bush, Afghan president to meet next month in US

Washington, July 17: President George W Bush and the president of Afghanistan, where thousands of troops are engaged in the US-led fight against terrorism, will meet next month to discuss the war's progress and cooperation between the two nations, the White House said today.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will join Bush at the presidential retreat at Camp David on Aug. 5 and 6, the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders plan to discuss democracy, security and economic development in Afghanistan as well as the two nations' cooperation in the war, efforts against militant extremists and Afghanistan's fight against the illicit drug trade, the White House said.

One issue of concern recently between the two nations has been the rising number of Afghan civilian casualties in fighting between the Taliban and US and NATO forces.

The Afghan government and rights and aid groups say more than 300 civilians have died this year from Western operations, mostly when air power is called in to get allied troops out of trouble. The Bush administration has blamed Taliban fighters for the rising death toll.

The wave of civilian casualties has triggered protests by Afghans demanding the expulsion of foreign troops and the resignation of Western-backed Karzai.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force has some 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, including some 15,000 troops from the United States, according to the Pentagon.

The meeting marks the first visit by Karzai to Camp David in Maryland. The Afghan leader met with Bush in Washington last September in meetings that included President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.

Reuters

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