KABUL, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama promised long-term support to Afghanistan
when he met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the Presidential Palace on
Sunday, a statement released by Karzai's office said.
Matters pertaining situation in Afghanistan, regional
stability, fight against drug, war on terror and enhancing Kabul-Washington
relations were discussed, the statement added.
U.S Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (R) and Afghan President Hamid
Karzai walk at the presidential palace in Kabul July 20, 2008. Obama promised long-term
support to Afghanistan when he met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the
Presidential Palace on Sunday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Both sides had exchanged views on boosting economic
relations between Afghanistan and the United States and on bolstering
reconstruction process of the post-Taliban nation in the meeting, the statement
said.
Afghan president, according to the statement,
expressed his gratitude for the role that the U.S. government and its people
played in the rebuilding of the war-torn central Asian state.
Senator Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday as
the head of three-member Senate delegation.
On Saturday he visited Jalalabad, the capital of
eastern Nangarhar province, and met with Nangarhar provincial governor. Senator
Obama also visited U.S. troops stationed there.
The Democratic presidential contender who criticized
Afghan government weeks ago had promised additional troops to Afghanistan to
bolster war on terror after winning the coming elections.
The statement added that the delegation during the
meeting noted that both the Democratic and Republican parties have been
supporting long-term presence of U.S. in Afghanistan.
During his tour to Afghanistan, Obama also visited
U.S. forces headquarters at Bagram, 50 km north of Kabul, and praised their role
in Afghanistan.
Obama is expected to tour Iraq, Jordan, Israel and
Germany afterwards.
U.S Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (C) greets a U.S. soldier during a visit to Camp Eggers in Kabul in this July 20, 2008 handout picture by the U.S. Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, July 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama has embarked on a multi-stop overseas trip
for meetings with a number of heads of states, his campaign said Saturday.
For security reasons, there is no public schedule for the
visit but the campaign's spokesman Robert Gibbs said the senator from Illinois
has actually left Washington on July 17 and made a brief stop in Kuwait before
arriving in Afghanistan on Saturday.
KABUL, July 19
(Xinhua) -- U.S. presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama arrived in the
Afghan capital Kabul Saturday, an official with the Afghan foreign ministry
said.
"Senator Obama is currently in Afghanistan," the official
told Xinhua but refused to be named.
