KABUL (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai headed Sunday for the United States and talks with US counterpart George W. Bush that risk being overshadowed by the Taliban's detention of 21 South Koreans.
Karzai is due to meet Bush at the US presidential retreat of Camp David in Maryland later Sunday and Monday.
Their talks are likely to focus on Afghanistan's reconstruction, civilian casualties and the fight against terrorism and narcotics, among other issues, said a statement from Karzai's office announcing his departure.
The United States led the invasion that drove the hardline Islamic Taliban out of government in late 2001 and is the main backer of Karzai's government, giving the most support to military efforts to defeat a Taliban insurgency and rebuild.