Afghan President Hamid Karzai has left Afghanistan for the United States on a two-day state visit on Sunday morning amid a South Korean hostage crisis, according to a statement.
During his visit to the U.S., Karzai will meet with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush at Camp David to discuss Afghanistan's reconstruction, military cooperation, civilian casualties, the fight against terrorism and narcotics, an upcoming peace assembly between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the U.S. assistance to Afghanistan, said the statement issued by Afghan Presidential Palace.
However, observers here said that Karzai and Bush are also expected to discuss the ongoing South Korean hostage crisis in the country.
A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants in the central Ghazni province on July 19, and two male hostages were executed as Afghan authorities refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
Many believed the United States, which launched a war to topple down the Taliban regime late 2001 and is still deploying over 26, 000 troops here, has an important say as to whether a hostage- prisoner deal should be made.
But the U.S. government all along has ruled out a deal with those it believes are terrorists.
Eight South Korean lawmakers arrived in the United States on Aug. 2 to ask U.S. officials to show flexibility in the latest hostage crisis, and the hostages' families have appealed to the U. S. embassy in Seoul for help.
However, so far there is no evidence to show the Afghan and U.S. governments will back off and release Taliban prisoners.
Source: Xinhua
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